With 30 days to go before the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, Bank of China has upgraded its foreign-related financial services across five key areas in the host city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, including the airport, border checkpoints, conference venues, hotels, and major commercial districts, and has established a multilingual volunteer task force to serve the event.

As the only global systemically important bank with a service network covering all 21 APEC economies, BOC has long leveraged its global network to support Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation. BOC will continue to leverage its global network and comprehensive service capabilities to play a key role in providing financial services for the APEC meeting, supporting China's high-standard opening-up through concrete actions.

 Building a comprehensive foreign-related financial service system

BOC has built up a comprehensive foreign-related financial service system by enhancing professional services at its branches, promoting the use of the BOC Compass app, a digital service platform, expanding multi-currency cross-border payment options, and upgrading tax refund services across a range of settings.

Currently, BOC has deployed bilingual cross-border business specialists at its branches in Shenzhen, installed multilingual smart counters for various scenarios, and introduced services such as RMB petty cash packs. These initiatives provide self-service, one-stop solutions for foreign visitors needing currency exchange and payment tool activation.

The BOC Compass app supports seven languages, offering online account opening appointments, branch searches, exchange rate calculations, tax refund services, as well as non-financial services like online translation, SIM card reservations, and flight and hotel bookings. The upgraded financial service map integrates foreign-related financial services into urban life.

Moreover, BOC has introduced new currency exchange options in Shenzhen, including the Vietnamese dong, Brunei dollar, and Mexican peso, supporting cash exchange in 24 major foreign currencies. It also supports Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and JCB, and has upgraded ATM cash withdrawal and merchant payment services for foreign cards while introducing innovative applications of digital RMB hardware wallets, creating a secure, convenient, and diverse cross-border payment system. 

In addition, BOC has installed multilingual tax refund self-service machines at Shenzhen airport and Luohu Port, supporting tax refunds in multiple languages and through multiple channels. At the airport, tax refund services are available 24/7, while BOC has established designated refund-upon-purchase service points in major commercial districts and key hotels, providing comprehensive tax refund services. 

Building an internationally oriented youth volunteer team 

BOC has established a volunteer task force to offer multilingual consultation services and financial service support for APEC-related events, showcasing Shenzhen's openness and inclusiveness alongside BOC's sense of responsibility as a major Chinese bank. 

The volunteers can communicate in languages spoken across several APEC economies and provide multilingual consultation and reception services. Having studied and lived overseas, they are familiar with different cultures and customs and skilled in cross-cultural communication, helping ensure smooth interactions with international guests. 

The volunteers are well-versed in foreign currency exchange, tax refunds, cross-border remittances, and cross-border investment and financing, enabling them to respond professionally to a wide range of cross-border financial inquiries. With extensive experience in foreign-related activities and major conference services, BOC's young volunteers are equipped to provide conference support, on-site guidance, coordination, and other on-site services. 

Serving as a bridge for Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation 

BOC is committed to serving as a bridge for Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation. 

To support local development, BOC, acting as a sole or joint global coordinator, has assisted the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government in issuing offshore RMB local government bonds worth RMB 32 billion since 2021. For three consecutive years, BOC has also served as global coordinator to assist the Guangdong Provincial People's Government with offshore RMB bond issuances in Hong Kong, providing high-quality financial services to support high-standard opening-up and high-quality coordinated development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 

To support Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation, BOC has leveraged its overseas service network covering multiple APEC economies to meet the core needs of companies going global for cross-border investment and financing, overseas settlement, exchange rate hedging, and global fund management. It has facilitated account opening and provided comprehensive financial support, helping Shenzhen companies expand their business in the Asia-Pacific region and establish a global presence. 

From January to August 2026, BOC's domestic institutions recorded a total international settlement volume of $2.657958 trillion with other APEC economies, up more than 23% year-on-year.

Additionally, BOC has been working to promote the international use of RMB. From January to September 2026, China's interbank market saw the issuance of 134 panda bonds, with BOC acting as the lead underwriter for 89 issues, ranking first in market share. Among them, BOC assisted issuers from APEC economies in issuing panda bonds totaling RMB 157.995 billion. In the Dim Sum bond market, BOC ranked first in underwriting market share, helping issuers from APEC economies issue Dim Sum bonds totaling RMB 353.632 billion.

As preparations for the APEC summit enter the final stage, BOC will continue to leverage its distinctive strength in cross-border finance to facilitate cross-border fund flows and build bridges for economic and trade exchanges, thereby providing financial support for the deepening of open cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and playing a key role in providing financial services for the APEC summit.