[Photo via VCG]

Representatives from Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province gathered in Shijiazhuang in Hebei on December 26 to sign the Framework Agreement for Cooperation on One-card Resident Services of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Social Security Card that would contribute to the development of the one-card services in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, promote the unimpeded and multi-purpose use of the social security cards issued in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei within the entire region both online and offline. The third-generation social security cards of Beijing will allow the residents of the capital to access services across sectors ranging from transportation to cultural tourism within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Efforts to facilitate the transition from second to third-generation social security cards are currently underway by the human resources and social security authorities of Beijing. Improved resident services, such as medical treatment, public transportation, library services, reservations for museum tours, and applications of annual travel cards within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region will become available to the residents of Beijing following the issuance of the third-generation social security cards.

It is reported that Beijing is expanding its service scope, with emphasis on transportation, medical insurance and treatment, and park admissions, among others. The city has finished the infrastructure upgrades to make the use of social security cards under multiple circumstances easier, including traveling by buses and subway and touring several municipal parks, with corresponding upgrades in medical insurance and human resources nearly complete. Residents of Beijing can use their third-generation social security cards to access medical treatment, take public transportation, enjoy parking services with discounts at 38 P+R parking lots in the city, top up their cards at banks or by using the "Beijing Yikatong" App, and apply for annual passes to public parks within Beijing and annual travel cards for cultural and leisure trips within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

(Source: Beijing Daily)