Digital development of inclusive finance will be spotlighted

BOC's headquarters in Beijing. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

As an important supporting company of the third China International Import Expo, Bank of China is aiming to offer high-quality financial services to participant enterprises.

To ensure safe and effective service, the bank said it has carefully planned each segment at the event, which started on Thursday in Shanghai. Its Luwan branch in Shanghai has set up a guarantee team, divided the preparation work and appointed tasks to individuals.

The branch has held four meetings focusing on operation and services at the expo since July 16. The meetings planned things such as epidemic prevention and control, personnel recruitment, machines and tools and also training and drills.

According to the overall arrangements of the Shanghai branch, the Luwan branch formulated an anti-epidemic plan which centers on people, halls and facilities.

A training class for services at the expo opened on Oct 15 in the Hongqiao exhibition and convention center branch in Shanghai. Along with etiquette and dress, complaint handling and English courses, the training covered publicity for pandemic prevention and control.

The class also organized drills on aspects including enhancing individual health, disinfecting sites, strengthening sense of service and dealing with emergencies.

Zhu Yunting, an employee of the bank, is participating in the on-site services for the expo for the first time. She said after several days' training, she learned more about etiquette, complaint precautions, English language and related facilities.

A staff member introduces financial services to customers. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

She would keep improving and familiarize herself with procedures to offer better service, Zhu said.

Wang Ying from the bank has attended the expo three times. "This year is particularly special and I can feel from the preparations our bank highly values epidemic control and prevention," Wang said.

The bank has launched comprehensive financial services for this year's expo, comprising basic, featured and dedicated services.

At the Hongqiao branch in the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) where the expo is being held, self-help facilities and information desks to offer comprehensive offline services are available.

Among online basic services are individual and corporate banking services, mobile application banking, telephone banking and WeChat banking services.

Featured services cover international settlements, technology and finance, cross-border e-commerce and inclusive finance. The bank also offers participanting enterprises custom-made services such as cross-border remittance.

As for dedicated services, the bank is serving exhibitors and traders in areas including credit enhancement and trade promotion.

The 3,000-square-meter Hongqiao branch is known for its strong comprehensive financial services. It has provided more than 10,000 exhibitors and traders with financial services involving business consultancy and handling in the past two expos.

There has been no errors nor complaints, the bank's representatives said, adding that its professional, efficient and warm services had gained recognition from clients.

More scientific and technological elements are being integrated at this year's expo.

BOC is an important supporting company of the third China International Import Expo. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The bank has a 5G interaction area and has combined the bank's services with advanced technologies such as internet plus multimedia. By touching diverse screens, clients can learn about new technologies and enjoy efficient services, the representatives said. The bank is also using its global resources to help the expo attract more exhibitors and organize supporting activities.

Considering the global pandemic situation, the bank has launched online investment attraction events this year and matched the needs of domestic and foreign companies.

It organized supply-demand matching events in the past two sessions, having offered one-on-one negotiation services to more than 2,500 exhibitors and 4,500-plus purchasers from more than 100 countries and regions.

For this year's trade and investment matching event, the bank is providing a video negotiation area for those who cannot attend the expo physically. It is also providing an investment promotion area where industrial parks can hold investment-themed roadshows.

As an important partner of the expo's people-to-people exchanges, the bank has tailored payment solutions for the event. Through its two WeChat public accounts, clients can buy commodities related to intangible cultural heritage and enjoy discounts.

It is also helping on-site visitors use Alipay, WeChat Pay, China UnionPay and mainstream international bank cards to buy related goods at the expo.

To guarantee smooth payment, the bank has organized a team to offer exhibitors one-to-one service. They can contact team members by scanning a code and the members will reach them in 10 minutes.

The bank has two comprehensive service sites in the expo's central square and the footpath section offering comprehensive financial services and displaying its service capacity and brand value.

The central square site focuses on people-to-people exchanges, involving an exhibition of time-honored brands and poverty alleviation, while the footpath site provides consultations and receives visitors.