UnionPay and Indonesian Partners Launch Cross-Border QR Payment System for Enhanced Transactions
On September 11, 2025, the world witnessed a transformative step in the financial transaction landscape between China and Indonesia. UnionPay International (UPI), in collaboration with key partners, launched a pilot program designed to facilitate cross-border QR payments between the two nations. This initiative, under the guidance of both central banks, marks a significant milestone, opening avenues for seamless financial exchanges.
At the launch ceremony held in Beijing, a demonstration showcased the capabilities of this new payment system through an Indonesian mobile payment application. In a simultaneous event in Jakarta, whitelisted users adeptly conducted transactions using UnionPay and Alipay apps, scanning QRIS—the unified QR code system adopted in Indonesia. This pilot program currently enables selected users from mainland China to utilize their mobile payment apps at over 40 million QRIS merchants throughout Indonesia. Conversely, select merchants within the UnionPay and Alipay networks in China can also accept payments from 22 leading Indonesian mobile apps.
However, it is important to note that participation in this sandbox phase is limited to a select group of users and merchants specifically authorized for this trial. The overarching goal is to fully operationalize this cross-border QR payment linkage by the end of 2025, following the conclusion of the sandbox phase.
This project is not merely an agreement; it signifies a profound step forward in collaboration between Chinese and Indonesian financial ecosystems. In January 2025, UPI entered a memorandum of cooperation with the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), along with Ant International and the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Jakarta Branch. Since then, UPI has fortified its initiatives by signing cooperation agreements with several switch networks in Indonesia—Rintis, ALTO, Artajasa, and Jalin—streamlining the project execution.
Notably, under this partnership framework, transactions via this cross-border system will be settled in the local currencies of China and Indonesia. This innovative approach is poised not only to simplify the mobile payment experience for everyday consumers in both countries but also to empower merchants by broadening their customer outreach. As a pivotal component of this initiative, UnionPay aims to create a new four-party model that involves collaborative engagement with stakeholders across the industry. This strategy promises to generate mutually beneficial opportunities for cooperation, while simultaneously advancing UnionPay’s development agenda.
Currently, UnionPay maintains or seeks cross-border QR payment capabilities with payment networks in 19 countries and regions beyond mainland China. As the pilot project progresses, UnionPay is dedicated to enhancing cross-border payment connectivity, thereby fostering economic ties between nations in a progressively interconnected world. The launch of this cross-border QR payment platform between China and Indonesia not only facilitates everyday transactions for consumers but also signals a broader move toward international financial cooperation.
Through this innovative payment solution, UnionPay envisions a future where global commerce is untethered from traditional banking limitations, promoting ease of access and inclusivity within the shift toward digital economy frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the launch ceremony held in Beijing, a demonstration showcased the capabilities of this new payment system through an Indonesian mobile payment application. In a simultaneous event in Jakarta, whitelisted users adeptly conducted transactions using UnionPay and Alipay apps, scanning QRIS—the unified QR code system adopted in Indonesia. This pilot program currently enables selected users from mainland China to utilize their mobile payment apps at over 40 million QRIS merchants throughout Indonesia. Conversely, select merchants within the UnionPay and Alipay networks in China can also accept payments from 22 leading Indonesian mobile apps.
However, it is important to note that participation in this sandbox phase is limited to a select group of users and merchants specifically authorized for this trial. The overarching goal is to fully operationalize this cross-border QR payment linkage by the end of 2025, following the conclusion of the sandbox phase.
This project is not merely an agreement; it signifies a profound step forward in collaboration between Chinese and Indonesian financial ecosystems. In January 2025, UPI entered a memorandum of cooperation with the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), along with Ant International and the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Jakarta Branch. Since then, UPI has fortified its initiatives by signing cooperation agreements with several switch networks in Indonesia—Rintis, ALTO, Artajasa, and Jalin—streamlining the project execution.
Notably, under this partnership framework, transactions via this cross-border system will be settled in the local currencies of China and Indonesia. This innovative approach is poised not only to simplify the mobile payment experience for everyday consumers in both countries but also to empower merchants by broadening their customer outreach. As a pivotal component of this initiative, UnionPay aims to create a new four-party model that involves collaborative engagement with stakeholders across the industry. This strategy promises to generate mutually beneficial opportunities for cooperation, while simultaneously advancing UnionPay’s development agenda.
Currently, UnionPay maintains or seeks cross-border QR payment capabilities with payment networks in 19 countries and regions beyond mainland China. As the pilot project progresses, UnionPay is dedicated to enhancing cross-border payment connectivity, thereby fostering economic ties between nations in a progressively interconnected world. The launch of this cross-border QR payment platform between China and Indonesia not only facilitates everyday transactions for consumers but also signals a broader move toward international financial cooperation.
Through this innovative payment solution, UnionPay envisions a future where global commerce is untethered from traditional banking limitations, promoting ease of access and inclusivity within the shift toward digital economy frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region.
Topics Financial Services & Investing）
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