Visitors to the Bund in Shanghai in April pose for a photograph, with the Pudong financial district in the background. WANG GANG/FOR CHINA DAILY

At the State Council executive meeting on Feb 23, a guiding document on further optimizing payment services and improving convenience of payment was reviewed and approved. Focusing on the inconvenience faced by senior citizens and foreigners visiting China, the guiding document aims at promoting multiple payment methods such as mobile payment, bank cards and cash.

2月23日，国务院常务会议审议通过了《关于进一步优化支付服务提高支付便利性的指导文件》。针对老年人、外国人来华不便等问题，指导意见旨在推广移动支付、银行卡、现金等多种支付方式。

With mobile payment so convenient for many, it has created digital divides, not only between the young and the elderly, but also between locals and foreigners. Especially, as China's visa-free policy continues to expand, coupled with the recovery of cross-border tourism following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of foreign visitors to China has been increasing.

由于移动支付对许多人来说非常方便，它不仅在年轻人和老年人之间，而且在当地人和外国人之间造成了数字鸿沟。特别是，随着中国免签政策的不断扩大，加上Covid-19大流行结束后跨境旅游业的复苏，来华外国游客数量不断增加。

China has a developed system of mobile payments, while many other countries and regions still use credit cards and cash. Efforts should be made to include cash and bank card payments along with mobile payments.

中国拥有发达的移动支付系统，而其他许多国家和地区仍然使用信用卡和现金。努力将现金、银行卡支付与移动支付并举。

Bank fee rates can be lowered to encourage businesses to use point of sale machines, enabling customers to pay by card.

可以降低银行手续费率，以鼓励企业使用销售点机器，使客户能够通过卡付款。

In 2022, the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, together with relevant departments, encouraged payment through card swiping, QR code scanning and cash payments, which was aimed at further strengthening the compatibility of existing mobile payment options for foreigners.

2022年，中国人民银行会同有关部门鼓励刷卡、扫码、现金支付等支付方式，旨在进一步加强现有移动支付方式对外国人的兼容性。

Finally, it should be noted that such relaxations do not mean the efforts to popularize mobile payments will stagnate. On the contrary, both need to be advanced in parallel.

最后需要注意的是，这种放松并不意味着移动支付普及的努力将会停滞。相反，两者需要并行推进。