Indonesia and China Launch Cross-Border QR Payment Linkage to Boost Regional Trade

Indonesia and China have officially launched a cross-border QR payment linkage connecting Indonesia’s Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) system with China’s leading digital payment platforms, marking a significant step toward deeper regional financial integration and easier cross-border transactions.

The initiative, introduced under the guidance of Bank Indonesia and the People’s Bank of China, allows consumers in both countries to make payments abroad using their domestic e-wallet applications simply by scanning QR codes. The linkage is supported by Alipay+, operated by Ant International, together with UnionPay International.

Under the arrangement, users of Alipay and the UnionPay App can make payments at more than 40 million QRIS merchants across Indonesia, most of them micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Indonesian consumers using QRIS-enabled banking and e-wallet applications will also be able to scan more than 80 million Alipay and UnionPay QR codes throughout China.

Officials said the initiative is expected to enhance travel convenience, encourage local currency settlement for cross-border transactions, and support growing tourism and trade flows between the two countries.

The launch comes as Chinese tourism to Indonesia continues to rebound strongly, with visitor arrivals reportedly surpassing 1.34 million in 2025, the highest level recorded in six years. Industry participants believe the simplified payment experience could further increase spending by Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia.

Indonesian merchants already using QRIS will not require additional hardware or technical upgrades to accept payments from Chinese visitors, providing an immediate opportunity for small businesses to benefit from rising inbound tourism.

The rollout is also part of broader regional efforts to establish interoperable real-time payment systems across Asia, as governments accelerate the development of integrated digital financial infrastructure.

Ant International said the collaboration reflects growing momentum toward interoperable digital payments globally.

“Interoperability is the foundation of the next generation of cross-border payments,” said Michael Guo, General Manager for Southeast Asia, South Asia and ANZ at Ant International. “Through Alipay+, we connect national QR schemes with global merchants and wallet users, enabling local businesses to participate in the digital economy on a global scale.”

Companies involved in the initiative said transaction growth during the pilot phase demonstrated increasing consumer awareness and demand for cross-border QR payment solutions, highlighting the role of digital innovation in supporting regional commerce and economic growth.