Beijing, May 4 (IANS): China will soon start issuing a new type of passport that will contain an electronic chip to record the passport holder's personal information.

According to the ministry of public security, the new passports will look similar to traditional ones but the electronic chip will contain the holder's name, date of birth,

photo and fingerprints, Xinhua reported.

Under preparation for three years, the new passports will be available from May 15.

Their introduction will help prevent counterfeits, the ministry said.

More rigid anti-counterfeiting technologies, such as special printing ink, laser signs, holographic film and digital signatures, have been applied in the new passports.

The annual number of passports issued by China has increased from one million in the 1990s to 10 million now.

With more than 90 countries adopting such digital passports, China felt the need to follow the trend to facilitate citizens' travel abroad, the ministry said.