The largest domestic bank card company, China UnionPay Co Ltd, has begun issuing cards in Turkey jointly with Garanti Bank, riding on the "One Belt, One Road" initiatives.

UnionPay has been expanding fast in overseas markets, especially Central Asian countries, to support the national strategy to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The belt stretches northwest from China through Central Asia, the Middle East and onward to Europe, while the maritime road runs to Southeast Asia.