The 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, China's major trade hub city, is actively enhancing diverse payment options for foreign visitors. The Canton Fair, which is underway from Monday to May 5, has had automated teller machines (ATMs) installed at its premises to make it easy for foreign bank card holders to withdraw cash using overseas bank cards, and to offer financial services within the exhibition halls. This initiative enables foreign visitors to choose their preferred payment methods, including cash, credit card, and mobile payments, for their transactions.
"We've expanded the acceptance of foreign cards to nearly 3,000 outlets in key areas such as airports, train stations, Canton Fair surroundings, and the CBD. Additionally, almost all our ATMs in the city now support cash withdrawals using foreign bank cards, basically ensuring full coverage of foreign card acceptance in key areas," said Li Zongqin, vice general manager of the International Finance Department at Agricultural Bank of China Guangdong Branch.
As of Friday, a total of 137,000 overseas buyers from 215 countries and regions had signed up for the fair. Launched since 1957, the Canton Fair is held biannually in the spring and autumn seasons. The exhibition is widely seen as a barometer of China's trade.
To better assist foreign visitors in making payment in China, Guangzhou has set up payment service consultation counters at the Baiyun International Airport, the city's main airport, to provide round-the-clock services for overseas visitors to enable electronic payment.
Moreover, mobile POS machines of 14,000 key merchants in vital locations such as ports, hotels, and shopping malls have been upgraded to accept mainstream foreign bank cards. As many as 98 percent of ATMs in the city now support cash withdrawals using overseas bank cards.
"It's easy now to ATM, you can use the card to anywhere you go by or do shopping, you can use that card to do. Now foreigner is easy for them in China [It's easy for foreigners to make payment in China]. If you go restaurants or the shop, you can swipe just the card for buying something. It's easy," said Saidou Sow, a visitor from Guinea.
The municipal authority has also launched an "international visitor service zone" feature on its official APP, allowing the link of mainstream bank cards from over 200 countries and regions for transactions. It is designed to provide a one-stop service for international visitors, encompassing payments, travel, lifestyle, and government services.
Canton Fair facilitates more payment options for foreign visitors
