Two factors facilitated the launch of this service in Australia: a) various UnionPay card products have been issued in Australia and have gained popularity among the local residents, b) the personnel exchange between China and Australia becomes increasingly frequent. Now, Australian UnionPay cardholders are able to enjoy Chinese visa application express service by presenting their UnionPay cards issued by Australia Post or Bank of China (Australia). They may also get more information on UnionPay from the brochures at centers.
Cai Jianbo, CEO of UnionPay International, says, with UnionPay cards' issuing scale expanding rapidly, we are committed to enriching UnionPay card-using rights and interests system to satisfy overseas cardholders' demands. This is a significant feature of UnionPay as an international payment scheme. This visa application express service can optimize cardholders' card-using experience, and also attract more overseas friends to visit China, thus supports the communication between China and foreign countries.
Currently, a number of institutions in Australia are accelerating the issuing process of UnionPay cards. In May, UnionPay International cooperated with Australia Post to issue Load&Go China, a prepaid reloadable travel card in Chinese Yuan and Australian Dollars, to local residents with frequent contacts in China. The two sides also invited Tim Cahill, the Australian soccer superstar to be the new ambassador for this product to educate travellers about the benefits of this must-have China travel card.
To date, 46 million UnionPay cards have been issued in over 40 countries and regions outside the Chinese mainland. UnionPay cards can be used at over 26 million merchants and 1.9 million ATMs worldwide. UnionPay service system also keeps optimizing: emergency cash assistance service is available in China and over 220 overseas countries and regions, refund service is available in over 30 overseas countries and regions, and many international airports have UnionPay VIP lounges.
In Australia, UnionPay cards can be used at 80% ATMs, 50% merchants and 97% taxies. Additionally, almost all institutions of higher education provide UnionPay cross-border online payment service.
For more information: http://www.unionpayintl.com/
Source: UnionPay International
AsiaNet 62527