STANDARD Chartered has teamed up with China's Alipay to become the first overseas bank to launch an express payment service for Chinese debit card owners as it rides on the strong demand from online shoppers.

Customers only need a bank card number, passcode and a verification code sent to their mobile phones for the express payment service and this convenience means they do not have to open an electronic service at banks.

Industry watchers said that partnerships with foreign banks cement a good foundation for Alipay, the online payment arm of Alibaba Group, to transact cross-border e-commerce.