In recent years, the central bank, in conjunction with some others, has been promoting the widespread use of financial IC cards. The "Guiding Opinions" released by the central bank this time particularly emphasizes the establishment of a demonstration zone for financial integrated circuit (IC) card "one card" in the free trade zone.

So, what kind of convenience will the future "one card" demonstration zone provide for the days of the free trade zone?

Since the official launch of the bank card chip relocation operation nationwide in 2011, the parallel application of "city one card" or "seamless integration" between financial IC cards and the city one card system has been carried out using financial IC cards as carriers, allowing financial IC cards to enter the field of "city one card" from traditional public utilities, urban transportation and other applications. After years of development, the use of financial IC cards in China's public service sector has ended and broken through 28 fields in 7 major categories, covering up multiple fields such as public transportation, social security, and healthcare. According to data from the central bank, as of the end of 2014, the cumulative issuance of financial IC cards in the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region was 100.28 million.

Transportation bento ends earliest

The "One Card" demonstration zone established in the Tianjin Free Trade Zone in the future may primarily end its use in terms of convenient transportation efficiency. As early as January 2013, the State Council issued the "Guiding Opinions on Prioritizing Public Transportation in Cities", urging the implementation of the "One Card" system for urban public transportation in all areas including buses, trams, and rentals during the 12th Five Year Plan period, and accelerating the use of financial IC cards in different transportation methods in cities. At the recent media briefing held by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport on "Promoting the Integration of Transportation in the Beijing Tianjin Hebei Region and Accelerating the Construction of Urbanization Regional Inductive Transportation Network", the "Beijing Tianjin Hebei Coordinated Transportation Integration Plan" once again explicitly proposed to promote the operation of urban conventional public transportation, rail transit, rental cars and other transportation "one card" services. The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Transport also confirmed to the media reporters that the operation of the "one card" transportation interconnection between major cities in Beijing Tianjin Hebei has been launched, and the specific end time is set for 2017.

It is understood that financial IC cards have achieved various application effects in the transportation field of Beijing Tianjin Hebei region. Beijing and Tianjin have launched a car rental campaign. Recently, under the careful organization of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Transport and the concerted efforts of hundreds of highway operation and management units and other relevant departments in the province, Guangdong Province successfully completed the task and officially connected to the national ETC network. As a result, the province's 1.07 million Guangdong Tong card users have been integrated into the national network of 18 provinces and cities' highways through "one card travel".

The integration of Guangdong into the national ETC network has played a "swan song" for Guangdong's transportation industry, which has been prepared for over 10 years. It is a song composed with sweat and hardship by Guangdong transportation personnel, and words filled with dedication and wisdom by Guangdong transportation personnel.

How difficult is it for Guangdong Province to access the national ETC network? Vice Minister Feng Zhenglin of the Ministry of Transport once said, "Guangdong has the most operating entities and the most complex network environment for highways. If Guangdong can connect, there is no reason why other provinces cannot connect!" This sentence not only expresses the difficulties that Guangdong has overcome in connecting to the national ETC network, but also inspires people's passion for struggle.

Now, after more than a month of grid connection, the toll collection system, settlement system, customer service and issuance system of various ETC lanes in Guangdong Province are operating normally, and their role in the economic and social development of Guangdong is becoming increasingly prominent.