Home / Biz updates
Visa Inc, the global card payment services company, held its first China Financial Literacy Development Alliance Forum in Beijing last month, aimed at raising the level of financial know-how among younger citizens.
Jointly organized by the China Banking Regulatory Commission's public education service center, the event highlighted both international and domestic financial trends, said Deng Zhiyi, who heads the organization.
"The promotion of financial literacy among young people is vital for national competitiveness and social welfare.
"The financial and education sectors, and the community at large, should strengthen cooperation to enhance the levels of financial literacy."
Representatives from Beijing Normal University Education Foundation and the Chinese Athletes Education Foundation were among the forum participants.
Among the proposals put forward was that financial education should be included in the national curriculum.
More than 110,000 students have benefited from financial literacy activities organized by Visa over the past three years.
Its "financial literacy bus", for instance, has toured 10 provinces this year, with the company's financial education activities offering mainly rural students and migrant workers the basics of financial planning through workshops.
Participants in the program had the chance of being rewarded for their studies with gifts, such as budget-planning books, diaries and piggy banks.
Guo Jinsheng, vice-president of the People's Bank of China's Anyang branch, took part in one of the financial literacy events held in Huaxian county of Henan province, which was attended by a staggering 4,000 students from 14 middle schools.
Shirley Yu, general manager of Visa China, said: "We are committed to the long-term promotion of financial literacy in China.
"Learning basic personal financial concepts early in life ingrains good habits in the younger generation and positions them for a more economically secure future." zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn
