East China's Hangzhou city has rolled out a series of improved payment services aiming to make it easier for foreign tourists to travel in the city.
With the services, International tourists can pay with their overseas bank cards via phone apps or use their familiar home e-wallets by scanning QR codes in Hanghzou.
Many store owners at famous tourist attractions have upgraded their payment systems to facilitate foreigners to make mobile payments.
"We have many foreign tourists here, accounting for about 40 percent. With diversified payment patterns, foreigners are more willing to tour around here and go shopping," said Qi Yue, a local store owner.
Apart from cashless payments, local banks also provide different cash bags, a quick currency exchange service which gives foreign tourists a bag containing currencies of different denominations. Tourists can choose which denominations they prefer in their bags. This service also greatly benefits local senior residents, who are not used to cashless payments.
"Currently, all the outlets of Agricultural Bank of China in Hangzhou have set up dedicated green channels for elderly-friendly service areas and personalized cash exchange services. We aim to provide better and more efficient and convenient payment services," said Ni Keqi, general manager of personal finance department, Hangzhou Branch of Agricultural Bank of China.
Hangzhou improves mobile payment for foreigners, elderly
Lai Ching-te has sent a dangerous signal of seeking "Taiwan independence" and making provocations to undermine cross-Strait peace and stability in his first speech upon assuming the role of Taiwan region's new leader on Monday, according to scholars and commentators.
Many in China's Taiwan region have pointed out that while Lai Ching-te's speeches have repeatedly emphasized the importance of peace for Taiwan, they see no concrete action on how to achieve it.
"He does not listen to public opinion and displays great arrogance. He blatantly intends to continue pursuing the 'two states' theory and will attempt to solicit U.S. support for 'Taiwan independence'. [He] disregards the desire of Taiwan for easing the situation in cross-Straits relations, which will create new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait," said You Zixiang, a professor at Shih Hsin University.
"After listening to his entire speech, I feel that not only did he fail to express any genuine intentions for peaceful coexistence and common prosperity, but he used the concept of peaceful coexistence and common prosperity as a cover and disguise for creating a 'peaceful division'," said Wang Bingzhong, a commentator in the Taiwan region.
In the Taiwan region, there is growing concern across various sectors that future opportunities for communication between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will become increasingly scarce.
"[The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities] are deepening the roots of political hatred. I think that since Taiwan has already experienced the tragic 'White Terror' in the past, why should we embark on a journey of 'Green Terror'?" said Chi Chia-Lin, president of the Reunification Alliance Party.
"I'm actually very concerned. Lai Ching-te's staffing arrangements have revealed his extreme ideology, and it seems that he will continue to put stress on cross-Strait relations," said Shi Xueqin, a student at Chi Nan University in Taiwan.
Lai sends dangerous signal in first speech as Taiwan's new leader: scholars, commentators
