China to take fingerprints of foreign visitors

BEIJING (AA) - China will begin to take fingerprints of foreign visitors to the country, according to local media on Thursday.

The Ministry of Public Security said in a statement that the system would first be tested at Shenzhen Airport as of Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.

All foreign nationals aged 14-70 will have to give their fingerprints, the statement said, adding those holding diplomatic passports or traveling under reciprocal conditions would be exempt.

The ministry added that collecting biometric data was an important border control measure adopted by several countries in the world, and that China's exit-entry departments would strive to improve the efficiency of entry clearance.