UnionPay Launches Cross-Border QR Payment Pilot between China and Indonesia

On September 11, 2025, UnionPay International (UPI), in collaboration with key partners, announced the launch of a pilot initiative for cross-border QR payments, marking a significant step forward in financial technology between China and Indonesia. This ambitious project is expected to enhance mobile payment accessibility and simplify transactions across borders, underscoring a growing trend towards digital finance in the Asia-Pacific region.

Launch Ceremony and Pilot Transactions

The launch ceremony took place in Beijing and featured a live demonstration of a transaction using an Indonesian mobile payment application. Concurrently, users in Jakarta, who are part of a whitelisted group, successfully conducted transactions through UnionPay and Alipay by scanning the QRIS, the unified QR code system in Indonesia. This initial phase allows selected users from mainland China to perform QR code payments at over 40 million merchant locations in Indonesia that accept QRIS payments. Likewise, QR payments are also facilitated from 22 popular Indonesian payment apps at selected pilot merchants within the UnionPay and Alipay networks in mainland China.

It is important to note that the pilot phase is restricted to whitelisted participants and merchants. However, the full-scale cross-border QR payment service is slated to become operational by the end of 2025, following the successful completion of this trial period.

Strategic Cooperation and Goals

The cross-border QR payment linkage represents a key project implemented under a government-to-government (G2G) model between China and Indonesia, with both countries' central banks providing guidance for its development. Earlier in 2025, UPI entered into a cooperation protocol with the Indonesian Payment Systems Association (ASPI), Ant International, and the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Jakarta branch. This was followed by separate agreements with four payment switching networks in Indonesia (Rintis, ALTO, Artajasa, and Jalin) and partnerships with Ant International and Alipay to expedite the implementation of this initiative.

As per the agreement between both central banks, all cross-border QR payments facilitated between China and Indonesia will be settled in the respective local currencies. This arrangement not only aims to ease mobile cross-border transactions for residents of both nations but is also designed to assist merchants in expanding their customer bases.

Moreover, this project signifies a substantial development in UnionPay's efforts to establish a new quadripartite model in collaboration with industry stakeholders, positioning UnionPay as a central player in fostering win-win cooperation compatible with its growth objectives.

Future Developments

To date, UnionPay has successfully established or is in the process of forming cross-border QR payment connections with payment networks in 19 countries and regions outside of mainland China. Looking ahead, UnionPay is committed to enhancing cross-border payment connectivity further, paving the way for greater financial inclusivity and an integrated marketplace across multiple nations.

This pilot program exemplifies the ongoing evolution of financial technology in Asia, where mobile payments and digital transactions are becoming increasingly prevalent among consumers and businesses alike. As the pilot progresses, stakeholders from both nations are optimistic about the future of this initiative, which is expected to usher in a new era of convenience in transaction processes and economic collaboration between China and Indonesia.