China will fingerprint foreigners when they enter the country, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement

Thursday, China's Xinhua news agency reported. In 2017, exit-entry departments across the country will begin to collect the fingerprints of foreign nations aged between 14 and 70.

Those holding diplomatic passports or under reciprocal conditions are exempted.

The new system will first be tested at Shenzhen Airport from Feb. 10, said the ministry. -- BERNAMA