Apple Pay coming to China in 2016

Apple and China UnionPay Thursday announced a partnership to bring Apple Pay to China in 2016. UnionPay cardholders will be able to add their bank cards to Apple Pay on iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad, according to a press release.

Apple Pay will roll out to UnionPay cardholders as soon as early 2016 following relevant tests and certification required by Chinese regulators, with the service itself in compliance with the applicable national mobile payment and financial industry standards in China, according to the announcement.

“China UnionPay is dedicated to promoting payment innovations and providing secure, convenient mobile payment experiences for its hundreds of millions of cardholders, aligning multiple parties in the industry,” said Chai Hongfeng, executive vice president of China UnionPay. “We’re very excited to offer Apple Pay among a diverse set of innovative payment options that work with China UnionPay QuickPass.”

“Apple Pay has revolutionized the way millions of people pay every day with their iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet software and services. “China is an extremely important market for Apple and with China UnionPay and support from 15 of China’s leading banks, users will soon have a convenient, private and secure payment experience.