On Jan. 30, 2011, the launch ceremony for the trial issuance of e-passports for public affairs was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the ceremony and pressed the issuance button. Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao delivered a speech. There were about 80 participants attending the ceremony including representatives and leaders from the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the General Office of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security and other related government agencies.

Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao pointed out that since the reform and open-up, China has actively carried out exchanges and cooperation with other countries in an all-round manner and in various forms and continued to create conditions to facilitate personnel exchanges. E-passport is featured by its superior performance and ease of use. It represents the development trend of international travel documents. Approved by the State Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the project of e-passports for public affairs. The project is now basically ready for the issuance of e-passports. The trial issuance of e-passports for public affairs indicates that the passport for public affairs in China has entered a new stage of development. It will make positive contribution to deepening China’s cooperation with other countries in various fields, facilitating the friendly exchanges with the people of other countries, and building a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity.

The face, fingerprint and other biometric features of the bearer will be digitalized and stored in pre-installed contactless smart chip in the e-passports, which greatly improves the security and anti-counterfeiting features and facilitates the customs procedures. A lot of countries and regions around the world have issued e-passports. The trial issuance of e-passports for public affairs is conducive to improving the processing of consular documents by electronic and IT means. It is also of great significance to safeguarding national security, promoting personnel exchanges, and serving the growth of the domestic economy.