WeChat: What is it and Why is it so Popular in China?
WeChat. It allows Chinese people to make payments, install other apps, and even write micro-blogs. Despite its popularity in the Chinese mainland, it is not often used in other countries for privacy issues. However, let’s get started with the fundamental question:
What is WeChat?
WeChat (微信) is a Chinese multi-purpose app developed by Tencent. First released in 2011, it has become the most popular app in China due to its numerous functions, despite it initially only sending instant messages. Why did WeChat grow so rapidly in popularity? The answer is simple: as an all-inclusive app which has no competition in mainland China, WeChat is the dream of every developer. WeChat’s ubiquity in Chinese society makes it a necessity for anyone even visiting for a short time, so make sure to download the app once you’re in China, otherwise you might not even be able to pay a taxi driver.
How To Open a Bank Account in China
Planning to operate a wholly foreign-owned enterprise business in China, whether it be a small business, a global company, or even a Fortune 500 company, can be fairly effortful. It is essential to take all the precautions needed to for your business to be successfully established. Once you acquire a business license, there are more steps to be taken further, such as, opening a bank account in China, to assist your business affairs. Although this step is necessary and can sound simple, opening an account in China can be challenging, especially recently, as the regulations became more stringent.
As of April 2020, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) have made it obligatory to follow high level of analysis during the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. Because of this, the PBOC have ordered that all banks not only to oversee business activities, including financial transactions, but also to induct a few other conditions such as investigating your other bank accounts in addition to dormant accounts, seek capital transitions, examine times of transactions as well as suspicious or abnormal activities, restrict pay outs and limit online banking transactions.