Bank of China, the largest foreign-exchange lender on China's mainland, issued the country's first euro-denominated international credit card yesterday.

　　Beijing-based BOC plans to issue 20,080 such cards, which can be settled in euros directly, by teaming up with Visa International.

　　"The euro credit card will help travelers and students in Europe save costs in currency conversion," said the BOC in a statement.

　　Previously, international credit cards issued by Chinese banks were settled in US dollars or Hong Kong dollars.

　　BOC, which has been appointed as the sole banking partner for the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing recently, said that members of the Chinese delegation to the Olympic Games 2004 in Athens this fall will be among the first holders of the euro card.

　　"With more European countries being opened for Chinese tourists, the demand of international credit cards that settle in euros will bulge," said Albert Shiung, head of Visa China.

　　Chinese residents will be allowed to travel in 27 European countries through domestic travel agencies from September 1.