Apple Pay arriving in China next year in partnership with China UnionPay

Apple has announced that it is partnering with China UnionPay, which operates China’s national inter-bank clearing and settlement system, to bring its mobile payments service Apple Pay to the Asian country.

"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," said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services.

The Cupertino-based company also revealed that the service will start rolling out in China "as soon as early 2016," following the required tests and certification by Chinese regulators. A specific date, however, wasn't revealed.

It's worth mentioning that a Wall Street Journal report had earlier said that Apple Pay will arrive in China in time for the country's Spring Festival holiday on February 8.

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