American Express has teamed up with China Mobile E-Commerce to develop a mobile payment service that will allows Chinese tourists to shop overseas with their mobile phone as the US travel and financial service giant seeks to expand its brand and claim a share of the boom in high-end travel from China.

"We look to expand our franchise in travel and in online shopping, and the cooperation with China Mobile could help us go where the customers are," said Alpesh Chokshi, president of American Express' Global Payment Options. "This natural cooperation is a very exciting model for us."

With the new mobile payment service, users of China Mobile can link their account to the American Express Global Travel Card, and enjoy an overseas shopping spree worldwide. Customers will be able to shop at notable destinations such as Macy's and Bloomingdale's, or purchase tickets to a Disney park, book a hotel room at the Aston Hotels and Resorts or the Diamond Resort and Hotels, with exclusive discounts and preferential coupons.

According to Chokshi, many Chinese tourists are traveling abroad for the first time, and seek some assurance in an unfamiliar economic environment.

"Our global assets could help the tourists with whatever difficulty they encounter, anything that happens in your trip," he said. "In case of a medical issue, we can even send a helicopter to take care of you. And if you lost your global travel card, we can immediately activate your backup card or even send you a new one within 24 hours worldwide with our global customer service.'

This cooperation with China Mobile is taking the worldwide mobile payment service to the next level in terms of mobility and integrity with a mobile phone, he said.

"Another advantage of the American Express global travel card is that you can lock in your exchange rate at the time you purchase, so you know exactly how much you are paying , and no additional charges beyond that," said Chokshi.

David Keung, president of American Express Greater China said the company would further improve its services in accordance with feedback from Chinese customers.

"It's unpredictable what would happen in the Chinese market in the future, but one thing for sure is that our global assets and experts will offer support and assistance no matter what happens," he said.

The company has worked with 15 branches of the China International Travel Agency to set up a tourism service network, covering 15 major tourism cities including Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Tianjin and Shenzhen. The 15 branches are entitled to use the American Express service network in more than 140 countries and regions worldwide. American Express will also help train the employees in the 15 branches.