BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The China UnionPay (CUP), a shareholding financial institution unifying China's national bankcard networks, has decided to set up an anti-fraud control center soon in a bid to provide risk-proof services for card holders.

    The CUP made the announcement at its working conference concluded here on Sunday.

    The CUP will underscore the expansion of both domestic and overseas services in 2006, striving to open new outlets in at least six countries, according to the conference.

    Before the establishment of the CUP in 2002, Chinese commercial banks issued their own bankcards individually that could not be generally accepted by other banks across the country, which was inconvenient for most consumers using Chinese bankcards.

    Now the CUP not only issues bankcards in China, but also provides services in 18 countries and regions including the United States, Germany, Japan as well as Hong Kong and Macao. Enditem