Visa announced a scheme at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) on Tuesday to partner with a Chinese cross-border payment company to simplify payments for international tourists in China.
The second CISCE takes place in Beijing from Tuesday to Saturday.
The global payment giant has teamed up with LianLian Global, a leading Chinese cross-border payment provider, to unveil the Yueda Card, designed to facilitate secure and efficient international payments for both corporations and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Visa digital business card issued by LianLian Global enables merchants to efficiently and securely process cross-border payments online across various scenarios, including online top-ups, multi-currency settlements, and digital invoicing
This collaboration is set to offer greater convenience to foreign tourists visiting China, providing a seamless digital payment option for a wide range of services during their stay.
Thanks to the country's favorable measures for tourism, including a series of visa-free transit policies and payment facilitation services, China has seen an influx of foreign tourists eager to explore the country.
"Our foreign friends can link their Visa cards to our app, so they could use it to call a taxi or go shopping. They may also add their Visa card to WeChat or Alipay, when they could enjoy the same convenience as we Chinese with QR code payments, which allow them to book high-speed train tickets on 12306, China's official railway ticket-booking website, or use travel apps like Ctrip. Such convenience could facilitate their entire journey in China," said Casper Li, a Visa employee.
The Chinese mainland recorded an estimated 95 million inbound tourist arrivals in the first nine months, marking a 55.4 percent increase year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Visa scheme to simplify payments for international tourists
African officials on Wednesday pledged to scale up investment to accelerate development across the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at a meeting in Accra, Ghana's capital.
They made the commitment during the 24th Annual General Meeting of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), where leaders highlighted the need to expand the bank's capital base to finance transformative projects.
Ghanaian Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson stressed that timely capital payments would strengthen EBID's leverage and sustain its growth, enabling the institution to stimulate inclusive economic expansion across the region.
"Timely capital payments are critical. It strengthens EBID leverage and sustains its growth and impact across our region. Expanding our capital base is essential to strengthen our ability to finance transformative development projects and stimulate inclusive economic growth among our member states," said Forson.
EBID recorded strong achievements in 2025, with total disbursements of about 722 million U.S. dollars, up 47.7 percent from 2024. Building on that momentum, President George Agyekum Donkor said the bank remains committed to helping member states tackle poverty and close infrastructure gaps across the region.
"We aim to direct at least 63 percent of new commitments towards the private enterprises to catalyze job creation and innovation. Simultaneously, the bank would embed environmental, social and governance principles across its operations, dedicating over 41 percent of resources to climate mitigation and social inclusion projects," said Donkor.
With disbursements surging nearly 48 percent last year, EBID officials said the bank is positioned to channel more resources into private-sector growth and climate-focused projects, reinforcing its role as a driver of inclusive development across West Africa.
African officials vow stronger investment push at ECOWAS bank meeting in Accra
