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Guan Mu (middle), Chinese ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Thailand, Cai Jianbo (second from right), executive vice president of UnionPay, Zhong Xiangqun (first from left), general manager of Card Business Center of Bank of China, Che Jun (first from right),general manager of Bank of China in Thailand and Wu Hongfeng (second from left), chairman of Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Thailand jointly unveiled the new card.
On Nov. 30th, UnionPay and the Bank of China jointly issued the first RMB-THB credit card (card number starting with “62”, with UnionPay logo on card face) in Bangkok. This card, together with the deposit card issued earlier by the Bank of China and the UnionPay platinum credit card issued by Bangkok Bank of Thailand, has further diversified the types of UnionPay cards locally. Guan Mu, Chinese ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Thailand, Cai Jianbo, executive vice president of UnionPay, Zhong Xiangqun, general manager of the Card Business Center of Bank of China as well as Che Jun, general manager of Bank of China in Thailand jointly unveiled the new card at the ceremony.
Like the local deposit card issued earlier by the Bank of China, this UnionPay RMB-THB credit card can be used in 117 overseas countries and regions including Thai. The transaction will be settled in RMB when in China and in THB outside China. With the currency exchange fees exempted, this card can be conveniently used by Thai people and cardholders traveling frequently between Thailand and China in particular. In Thailand, UnionPay card has already been accepted by over 90% of all ATMs and nearly 50% merchants. It can be used in airports, train stations, long-distance bus stations, hotels, restaurants, duty-free stores, convenient stores, places of interests, shopping centers such as Siam Paragon, Emporium, Robinson and other places frequently visited by local residents and tourists.
Cai Jianbo, executive vice president of UnionPay, said that UnionPay cards play an active role in deepening bilateral communication and cooperation in Thailand, where UnionPay launched its business at an early time. As an important partner of UnionPay, Bank of China has collaborated with UnionPay in developing bank card business in many markets including Thai. The two parties jointly introduced the emergency cash assistance service this year in some countries, further improving UnionPay’s overseas business. Currently, over 12 million UnionPay cards have been issued in 22 foreign countries and regions. While securing excellent service for Chinese people abroad, UnionPay has also been bettering its business to win over its foreign users.
Zhong Xiangqun, general manager of the Card Business Center of Bank of China, said that Bank of China has always paid great attention to the Thai market. Partnering with UnionPay, Bank of China has issued dual currency deposit card and credit card successively in Thai during the past six months, which is indeed the success of long term collaboration between the two. With the accelerating internationalization speed in enterprises of both nations, more and more Chinese companies invest in Thailand. The fast personnel exchange and trans-boundary trade development have not only brought opportunities to cross-border personal financial business of Bank of China but have also raised higher and urgent requirement for convenient, safe and economical banking service as well.
Guan Mu, Chinese ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Thailand, expressed his congratulation on the new progress of business cooperation between the Bank of China and UnionPay in Thailand. He said that owing to the frequent bilateral trade which generated 2 million personnel exchanges in 2010 alone, the UnionPay card has become an important bilateral settlement tool already.
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