UnionPay International and Weixin Pay Collaboration Enhances Payments for International Visitors

UnionPay International Partners with Weixin Pay to Enhance Payment Solutions

In an important development for international travelers, UnionPay International has announced a new partnership with Weixin Pay. This collaboration is designed to streamline the payment process for foreign visitors in mainland China, allowing them to utilize various international e-wallets to make QR code payments using Weixin Pay.

As of December 17, 2024, this initiative reflects UnionPay's commitment to improving financial accessibility for travelers. Eight international wallets have gained the ability to facilitate Weixin Pay transactions, including BoC Pay from the Bank of China (Hong Kong), Octopus, PayMe from HSBC, and Tap Go in Hong Kong; Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking and K PLUS from KASIKORNBANK in Thailand; Naver Pay in South Korea; and ICBC Mobile Banking (ICBC Pay) in Malaysia. This expanded functionality enhances the mobile payment experience for visitors, providing a wider array of options to make transactions seamlessly.

Once users associate their UnionPay cards or activate their digital cards within the supported wallets, they can effortlessly scan Weixin Pay codes for payments. Their local currencies will be automatically converted to Chinese Yuan, simplifying the process further. Going forward, UnionPay aims to extend the availability of Weixin QR payments to additional wallets from regions such as Macau, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, and beyond.

Since launching Project Excellence 2024 in March, UnionPay has taken a proactive role as a payment facilitator, working closely with industry partners. From June onwards, users of the UnionPay app have been able to scan various Weixin Pay codes presented by merchants and make payments, with this new feature marking a significant milestone in the collaboration with Weixin Pay.

This partnership not only highlights UnionPay's efforts to enhance payment connectivity with various players in the payment industry but also accelerates the development of a sustainable business model that meets the needs of international visitors. The initiative is expected to provide travelers in mainland China with improved payment options, promoting greater acceptance of international financial standards.

UnionPay previously partnered with Weixin Pay and WeChat Pay HK, introducing cross-border payment solutions catering to residents of Hong Kong. This initiative has enabled seamless transactions across a multitude of merchants in mainland China.

In recent years, UnionPay has continued to enhance its localized offerings, leading to an increasing number of users outside mainland China benefiting from its accessible payment services. Over 250 million UnionPay cards have been issued in 83 countries and territories, with more than 200 UnionPay wallets launched in 36 countries and regions, all interoperable with UnionPay's extensive global acceptance network.

As payment technology evolves and the demand for efficient solutions increases, UnionPay International is poised to pave the way for greater financial integration and accessibility for international travelers, ensuring that visitors to mainland China have a smooth and convenient payment experience during their stay.