American Express and Alipay have teamed up to launch a new feature designed to make payments easier for international travelers in China. Starting now, eligible American Express Card Members worldwide can link their cards to the Alipay digital wallet. This allows them to make secure and seamless payments at tens of millions of merchants across mainland China. The move not only simplifies transactions for travelers but also opens up new opportunities for local businesses to attract international customers.
Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services at American Express, highlighted the benefits of the partnership. “By integrating with Alipay’s digital wallet, we’re enhancing the experience for our Card Members traveling to and within China. This collaboration gives them more ways to pay and connect with a wide network of merchants across the country.”
Cyril Han Xinyi, President of Ant Group, emphasized the importance of travel in fostering global connections. “Travel is a key driver of global connectivity and shared prosperity. We’re excited to deepen our collaboration with American Express, a leader in the industry, to create a vibrant ecosystem that benefits everyone. Through innovation, we aim to support small businesses in expanding globally and help people build cultural understanding through safe and convenient travel experiences.”
Yamin Zhu, CEO of Express (Hangzhou) Technology Service Company, a joint venture of American Express in China, added, “This integration with Alipay reflects our commitment to making it easier for both residents and international travelers to spend at local merchants in China.”
American Express holds the distinction of being the first foreign payments network licensed to clear transactions in Chinese yuan (Renminbi) on the mainland. Through its joint venture, Express Company, American Express has partnered with over 30 leading Chinese banks, third-party payment platforms, and mobile wallet operators. This enables Card Members to use their American Express Cards at millions of merchants across China.
With this new integration, Alipay now supports seven major global card brands, making it easier for international visitors to pay in China. Alipay is part of Alipay+, a unified wallet gateway developed by Ant International. Through Alipay+, users of Alipay and 12 other leading e-wallets and payment apps across Asia can pay seamlessly at tens of millions of merchants in China.
Jiang-Ming Yang, Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) of Ant International, commented on the initiative, saying, “Enabling inbound digital payments into China through Alipay+ demonstrates our commitment to driving digital innovation across borders. These efforts are creating a seamless cross-border payment experience, helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) connect with global travelers effortlessly.”
This collaboration marks a significant step in enhancing payment convenience for international travelers while supporting local businesses in China.
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