Apple Pay will launch in China in early 2016 through a partnership with bank card association China UnionPay and with support from 15 of the country’s banks.

“Apple Pay will roll out to China UnionPay cardholders as soon as early 2016 after relevant tests and certification required by Chinese regulators, with the service itself in compliance with the applicable national mobile payment and financial industry standards in China,” Apple says.

“Simply hold iPhone near China UnionPay’s QuickPass-enabled POS terminals with your finger on Touch ID to pay,” the company explains. “With Apple Watch, just double-click the side button and hold the watch face up to the contactless reader to make a purchase right from your wrist.”

“China UnionPay is dedicated to promoting payment innovations and providing secure, convenient mobile payment experiences for its hundreds of millions of cardholders, aligning multiple parties in the industry,” says Chai Hongfeng, executive VP of China UnionPay. “We’re very excited to offer Apple Pay among a diverse set of innovative payment options that work with China UnionPay QuickPass.”

“Apple Pay has revolutionised the way millions of people pay every day with their iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad,” adds Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior VP of internet software and services. “China is an extremely important market for Apple and with China UnionPay and support from 15 of China’s leading banks, users will soon have a convenient, private and secure payment experience.”

Apple has faced delays in launching Apple Pay in China, with reports in November 2015 that the mobile payment service would not be launching in the country until the end of 2016. Reports that Apple Pay had “hit bumps” in China first emerged in February.

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