UnionPay International Pilot Launches Cross-Border QR Payment Program Between China and Indonesia

UnionPay International Launches QR Payment Pilot Between China and Indonesia

On September 11, 2025, UnionPay International (UPI) officially launched a pilot program for cross-border QR payments connecting China and Indonesia. This program is developed in collaboration with local partners and is under the oversight of both countries' central banks. The launch event took place in Beijing, showcasing a successful transaction through an Indonesian mobile payment application.

During this inaugural session, authorized users in Jakarta executed payments using UnionPay and Alipay applications by scanning QRIS, the unified QR code system adopted in Indonesia. This pilot phase will enable selected users from mainland China to conduct QR payments through these two Chinese mobile payment apps at over 40 million QRIS-enabled merchants across Indonesia. Conversely, selected mainland Chinese merchants will also be able to accept QR payments from 22 Indonesian mobile payment applications.

It is essential to note that the current phase is limited to a whitelist of participants and merchants. Full operational capability for this cross-border QR payment connection is anticipated by the end of 2025, pending the completion of the pilot phase.

This initiative marks a significant milestone in enhancing financial connectivity between China and Indonesia within a Government-to-Government (G2G) framework. UPI had previously signed a memorandum of cooperation in January 2025 with the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), Ant International, and the Jakarta branch of the Bank of China (Hong Kong). Following this, UPI established separate cooperation agreements with four Indonesian switching networks (Rintis, ALTO, Artajasa, and Jalin), as well as with Ant International and Alipay, thus accelerating the project's implementation.

According to the agreement between the two central banks, QR cross-border payments will be settled in local currencies. This will not only simplify the mobile payment experience for residents of both countries but will also enable merchants to broaden their customer base. Additionally, this project signals a substantial advancement for UnionPay in fostering a quadripartite model of collaboration alongside industry stakeholders. UnionPay plays a pivotal role in enhancing cooperation throughout the supply chain, contributing to mutually beneficial synergies within the sector while promoting its growth.

To date, UnionPay has achieved or is pursuing the integration of cross-border QR payments with payment networks across 19 countries and regions outside of mainland China. The company is committed to further expanding cross-border payment connectivity in the future.

As financial trends evolve, initiatives like these illustrate the growing importance of digital and mobile payment solutions in facilitating international commerce. By bridging technological gaps and creating new avenues for business, UnionPay's new cross-border QR payment initiative serves as a model for enhancing global trade and commerce efficiency in Asia.