Didi Chuxing is launching a bilingual version of its ride-hailing app and accepting international credit cards, enabling foreigners – who had been left fuming at its withdrawal – to use the Uber-type service in China once again, the Financial Times reports. In a statement, the company said the move to internationalize the service “is a crucial link in Didi’s broader global strategy.” It cited Chinese tourism statistics showing more than 28m tourists visited the country last year. It also comes just weeks after investors agreed to stump up $5bn-$6bn aimed at enabling Didi to expand beyond China. The investment values the company at $50bn, including the new funds raised, making Didi the world’s second-most valuable private tech start-up after Uber. Didi had abruptly pulled its English language app in China and with it the ability to pay with international credit cards, shortly after it acquired Uber’s domestic business in August last year.
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