China’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce said they plan to select 15 pilot cities to receive funding to improve the consumption experience for international visitors—including more accessible payment methods, reports Caixin. The announcement was made Tuesday in a joint policy notice by the two ministries. One of the most significant changes is the rollout of payment systems that accept cards on international networks. Currently, most commerce in China relies on transactions through domestic apps WeChat and Alipay.
The Chinese government will allocate between RMB 100 million ($14 million) and RMB 200 million to each selected city. The funds will be distributed over two years and will finance a range of upgrades to local consumer infrastructure.
Under criteria set by the agencies, chosen cities must demonstrate strong growth potential in the consumption sector and already regularly receive a substantial number of foreign visitors. Implementation is planned for this year.