BEIJING - China UnionPay, one of the world's leading bank card associations, signed a framework agreement with China Construction Bank (CCB) on Tuesday to explore a mobile phone payment program.

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The two companies will work together to develop payment systems that can be used online or through mobile phones, according to an agreement signed in Shanghai.

Clients who opt to try out the companies' mobile phone payment services will be able to shop online, pay utility bills, make credit card payments and buy airplane tickets through their mobile phones, according to a statement posted on China UnionPay's website.

Zhu Xiaohuang, vice president of CCB, said the mobile phone payment program has great potential and will help to speed up the construction of the country's financial service system.

Xu Luode, president of China UnionPay, said CCB is the first state-owned bank to sign a cooperative agreement concerning the exploration of mobile phone payment platforms.

Earlier this month, China UnionPay also signed agreements with Huaxia Bank and telecommunication equipment manufacturer Datang Telecom Technology to jointly develop mobile phone payment services.