"Credit cards are convenient for people who make regular business trips. I don't need to carry large sums of cash and I can get access to money in an emergency. There are always three credit cards in my wallet and I use them whenever possible."

Ma Sheng, a businessman in Beijing

"I treat credit cards as a type of financing measure that help me to keep track of my accounts and save money to invest in stocks and funds.

"The emergence of card slaves is partly due to the fact that banks have been issuing credit cards too easily. They should review their policies and implement stricter credit application procedures. If they do not screen their customers more carefully, there will be more bad debts and more card slaves."

Yang Lie, a sales manager

"Credit card consumption can benefit society because it reduces the cost associated with the circulation of paper money. Being moderately in debt can be good for the development of society, the individual and especially companies.

"However, banks will not encourage people to get too far into debt because of the risks. Chinese people began to taste the flavor of credit two or three years ago and the credit card market still has a lot of room to develop. When there are more credit card holders, there might well be more credit card slaves."

Tang Zhihong, deputy governor of China Merchants Bank

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