China Unionpay and EFTEX said on Friday that all Australian EFTEX ATMs will soon be able to accept Unionpay cards.

EFTEX, a leading Australian payment processor, owns nearly 1,500 ATMs and a growing network of POS terminals in Australia, India, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand.

The move means that Unionpay cards will be accepted by nearly 40 percent of Australia's ATMs and by more than 70,000 of the country's merchants, said China Unionpay, China's national bank card association.

Unionpay cards are mostly used in Sydney, Melbourne and other cities where Chinese travelers often visit. The change will save travelers money in the form of currency conversion fees, which are equal to one to two percent of every transaction conducted abroad.

Unionpay card transactions rose 47 percent year-on-year in Australia in 2010.

China Unionpay said it will continue to cooperate with Australian financial institutions in order to promote wider acceptance of its cards and improve its service.