#China #Beijing #Indonesia #UnionPay #QR Payments

UnionPay International Launches Pilot Cross-Border QR Payment Program

On September 11, 2025, UnionPay International (UPI), in collaboration with various partners, officially launched a pilot program for cross-border QR code payments between China and Indonesia. This initiative is supervised by both central banks of the respective countries and aims to simplify mobile payment transactions for users across borders.

The inauguration took place in Beijing, where the pilot transaction was demonstrated using an Indonesian mobile payment app. Simultaneously, in Jakarta, select whitelisted users successfully made transactions through UnionPay and Alipay apps by scanning the unified Indonesian QR code known as QRIS. During the testing phase, chosen users from mainland China can utilize these Chinese mobile applications to conduct QR code payments at over 40 million QRIS-accredited merchants located throughout Indonesia. Likewise, selected merchants in mainland China under the UnionPay and Alipay networks will also accept QR payments from 22 leading Indonesian mobile applications.

It's important to mention that the current testing phase is restricted to participants and merchants on a predetermined whitelist. The initiative is projected to move into full operation by the end of 2025 after the completion of testing. The QR code cross-border payment solution is pivotal in the cooperative efforts undertaken by China and Indonesia under the model of government-to-government (G2G) cooperation.

In January 2025, UPI had signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), Ant International, and the Bank of China (Hong Kong) - Jakarta branch. Following this, UPI established separate agreements with four interbank transaction networks in Indonesia—Rintis, ALTO, Artajasa, and Jalin—alongside collaborations with Ant International and Alipay, thereby accelerating the implementation of this project.

As part of the agreement between the two central banks, QR cross-border payments between China and Indonesia will be settled in their local currencies. This feature not only facilitates residents of both countries in executing mobile transactions across borders but also aids merchants in broadening their customer base. Additionally, the project signifies a significant stride for UnionPay in forging a new quadripartite model in collaboration with industry stakeholders, allowing UnionPay to play a central role in expanding partnerships within the sector and promoting a mutually beneficial cooperation approach supporting its growth.

Thus far, UnionPay has either completed or is in the process of launching QR cross-border payments with payment networks in 19 countries and regions outside of mainland China. Moving forward, UnionPay intends to further develop cross-border payment connectivity to enhance global payment accessibility.

In conclusion, as the world continues to evolve towards digital payment solutions, programs like these by UnionPay International not only demonstrate technological advancement but also signify the forging of international partnerships that can benefit consumers and businesses alike, all while facilitating smoother economic interactions across borders. The expectations surrounding the full launch of these services are high, and both Chinese and Indonesian users will soon experience a new level of convenience and efficiency in their payment systems.