(ECNS) -- China will begin collecting and storing the fingerprints of inbound foreigners, said the Ministry of Public Security.
The ministry said border control authorities across the country will start in batches to fingerprint foreigners aged from 14 to 70 years old.
Those with diplomatic passports or beneficiaries of reciprocal agreements will not be required to provide fingerprints.
The airport in Shenzhen will be among the first groups to pilot the policy starting on Feb. 10, before it is implemented in more areas.
The ministry said using such a method of biological identification is an important way to strengthen entry and exit control, and is already an international practice in many other countries.
China's border control authorities will improve their efficiency and service quality, added the ministry.
