MTS has launched commission-free transfers for individuals to WeChat Pay wallets. Now, users of the "Moy MTS" application can top up one of China's main payment services and pay by QR code in almost any retail outlet in China.
Previously, the application already supported Alipay – the country's second-largest payment system.
In China, WeChat Pay and Alipay have effectively become the standard for cashless payments. Everything from subway rides and street food to hotels and shopping malls is paid for through them. In many places, especially in small cafes, vending machines, or parking lots, international bank cards and cash may not be accepted at all.
Transfers to WeChat Pay and Alipay are available directly through "Moy MTS". You can top up your wallet from a card of any Russian bank, an electronic wallet, or an MTS subscriber's personal account. Funds are transferred in rubles with automatic conversion to yuan and arrive within a few minutes.
The minimum transfer amount is 1100 rubles, and the maximum is 400 thousand rubles.
To register with WeChat and Alipay, a Russian phone number and an international passport are sufficient. Through the applications, you can also call a taxi, order food, buy train and plane tickets, book hotels, and pay for attractions.
MTS notes that the service should simplify trips to China and reduce dependence on intermediaries through whom tourists previously topped up Chinese wallets.
You can log in to the "Moy MTS" application with the number of any Russian operator. For MTS subscribers, transfers and payments are available even with a negative balance – provided there is internet access.
