China will start issuing a new type of passport with an electronic chip that will contain a record of cardholder's personal informations.

The new passports will look like the traditional ones but a chip containing informations like the cardholder's name, his date of birth, photograph and finger prints will be installed in them, a statement by Chinese ministry of public security said today.

These passports were under preparation for the past three years and will be available from May 15.