In a first for China, on Tuesday the city of Guangzhou in Guangdong province started issuing official electronic copies of birth certificates via WeChat, reports Science and Technology Daily.

The digital certificate can be used as an official document in the province in place of the traditional paper version. Parents can apply for their child's electronic birth certificate by verifying their identity using WeChat. The system will arrange a paper copy of the certificate for the applicant, along with a digital one that will be generated when the paper one is issued.

Authorities in Guangdong have vowed to promote the use of the electronic birth certificate, but have said that parents will still need to hold onto the paper version of the document for now.