China UnionPay's automatic teller machine (ATM) network has expanded to 61 countries and regions after it recently started service in nine Middle East and African countries, sources with the company said on Friday.

The nine countries are the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Djibout and the Republic of Congo.

The economic and trade relations between China and the nine countries have become closer in recent years, with a total bilateral trade volume of 22 billion U.S. dollars in 2008. Some 250,000 Chinese visited those countries for work and travel.

"It not only marks an important step in expanding our business in the Middle East, West Asia and Africa, but also a crucial move for our global reach," said Xu Luode, president of the company.

Xu said the company would continue to beef up international cooperation and provide both Chinese and foreign customers with efficient and safe bank card service.

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2009)