David Stepat interviewed for CNA’s Money Mind on China allowing online payment for international credit cards

Significant improvements to the mobile payment experience have been announced for foreign users in China.

Foreign users can make payments via WeChat by linking their international credit or debit cards to the WeChat Pay platform. After entering the Chinese mainland, foreign visitors can easily set up WeChat Pay on their WeChat app and proceed to add their international cards issued by Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or Discover Global Network. This convenient and seamless payment method enables foreign users to “pay like a local” in China, making it easy to pay for things like food, shopping, and transportation without carrying cash or opening a Chinese bank account.

Following the report of our publishing house, TV broadcaster Channel News Asia Singapore invited our expert David Stepat, International Business Advisory Senior Manager at Dezan Shira & Associates Singapore to share his insights on the long-awaited amendment of online payment methods in China for its renowned Money Mind program.

“I have been in China for over 10 years and have first-hand experienced difficulties in accessing modern payment options with foreign cards. This development really changes the game. Precisely, the update enables even travelers now to easily utilize WeChat Pay and make purchases across various sectors, such as dining, transportation, retail, and hospitality. This inclusion of foreign credit cards will significantly enhance the convenience of the tourist payment experience in China, where cashless mobile payment has been established in nearly every thinkable event of transaction.”

Learn more about the expected effects of the update and the assessment of its efficiency and it’s limitations in our comprehensive China Briefing article on how foreign users can make payments through WeChat Pay and watch David’s informative interview on Channel News Asia.

For further information reach out to our experts in China: china@dezshira.com.

Further Resources

For further resources on China FDI opportunities and regulatory updates, please visit China Briefing, where you can find a range of useful resources such as:

China’s Tourism Sector Prospects in 2023-24 [Article]

WeChat Enables Foreigners to Pay with Overseas Cards in China [Article]

Traveling to China After Reopening – What’s Changed? [Article]

Beyond a Mega City: Investing in China’s Mega City Clusters [Guide]