Cross-border digital payments in Asia continue to evolve as Indonesia and China officially launch a new QR payment connectivity initiative designed to simplify transactions for travelers, merchants, and businesses across both markets. Powered by Ant International’s Alipay+ and supported by UnionPay International, the partnership connects Indonesia’s QRIS system with China’s major payment ecosystems, creating a more seamless payment experience for millions of users.
The initiative marks another major step toward regional financial interoperability, helping local merchants tap into tourism-driven spending while strengthening digital trade and financial inclusion across Asia.
Indonesia and China Strengthen Cross-Border Payment Connectivity
The launch of the Indonesia-China QR connectivity was formally announced during an event at Bank Indonesia in Jakarta. Developed under the guidance of Bank Indonesia and the People's Bank of China, the collaboration links Indonesia’s Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) with widely used Chinese payment platforms.
Through this integration, users of Alipay and the UnionPay App can now make QR code payments at more than 40 million QRIS merchants throughout Indonesia. Most of these businesses are micro, small, and medium enterprises or MSMEs.
At the same time, Indonesian users with QRIS-enabled e-wallets and banking apps can scan more than 80 million Alipay and UnionPay QR codes across China.
The initiative creates a more convenient payment ecosystem for travelers while supporting the growing demand for cashless transactions between the two countries.
Boosting Opportunities for Indonesian MSMEs
One of the most significant advantages of the QRIS-China connectivity is the expanded access it provides to local merchants, especially small businesses that rely heavily on tourism and consumer spending.
Merchants in Indonesia do not need to install new hardware or adopt additional systems. Existing QRIS codes are already capable of accepting payments from Chinese visitors using their preferred digital wallets.
This simplified approach allows MSMEs to immediately benefit from increased international spending. With Chinese tourist arrivals in Indonesia reaching more than 1.34 million in 2025, the highest level seen in six years, the timing of the launch aligns with the country’s tourism recovery and digital transformation goals.
Since MSMEs account for over 99% of businesses in Indonesia, enabling frictionless transactions for foreign visitors could directly contribute to stronger merchant revenues and broader economic activity.
Advancing Real-Time Payment Interoperability Across Asia
The Indonesia-China QR payment linkage is also part of a wider regional effort to improve interoperability among national payment systems throughout Asia.
Alipay+ acts as the technical bridge that connects payment ecosystems across borders. Through its unified wallet gateway, users can continue paying through their familiar home e-wallets while merchants receive funds through their existing domestic infrastructure.
The initiative supports government-led efforts to create a more open and inclusive payment landscape that can accelerate trade, tourism, and digital economic growth throughout the region.
The partnership also builds on the ongoing expansion of QRIS cross-border connectivity initiatives within ASEAN and neighboring markets.
Alipay+ Highlights the Future of Cross-Border Payments
During the launch, Michael Guo, General Manager for Southeast Asia, South Asia, and ANZ at Alipay+, emphasized the importance of interoperability in shaping the future of digital payments.
Guo explained that interoperability serves as the foundation for the next generation of cross-border payment systems. He noted that Alipay+ helps connect national QR infrastructures with merchants and wallet users globally, allowing local businesses to participate more actively in the digital economy.
He also shared that the latest Indonesia-China launch reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to building a seamless and open payments ecosystem that benefits businesses, consumers, and economies alike.
Growing Digital Payment Adoption Across the Region
The pilot phase of the cross-border QRIS transactions already demonstrated encouraging growth, signaling increasing awareness and adoption of QR-based international payments among consumers.
As more merchants and digital wallet providers join the ecosystem, the initiative is expected to accelerate cashless payment adoption, improve financial inclusion, and strengthen economic connectivity between Indonesia, China, and the broader Asian region.
Currently, Alipay+ partners with 50 international e-wallets and banking apps, connecting more than 2 billion user accounts with over 150 million merchants worldwide, including multiple national payment schemes across Asia and beyond.
With digital commerce and tourism continuing to rebound across the region, initiatives like the Indonesia-China QR connectivity could play a major role in shaping the future of borderless transactions in Asia.
The launch of the Indonesia-China QR payment linkage highlights how digital financial infrastructure is becoming increasingly interconnected across Asia. For businesses, especially MSMEs, it creates easier access to international consumers without costly upgrades or operational complexity. For travelers, it removes friction from cross-border spending and improves convenience.
As regional economies continue embracing digital transformation, interoperable payment ecosystems like QRIS and Alipay+ may become essential drivers of tourism growth, trade efficiency, and financial inclusion in the years ahead.