Thekabarnews.com—Bank Indonesia has accelerated the official launch of its cross-border QRIS payment system in China. The go-live date moved up from early May to April 30, 2026.

The quicker implementation is another big step in Indonesia’s efforts to boost cashless international transactions and strengthen regional payment connectivity.

The announcement was made by Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta during a virtual press conference. She confirmed that China will officially begin supporting QRIS transactions starting April 30.

According to Filianingsih, both technical preparations and business arrangements are complete, allowing the system to go ahead earlier than planned.

“Technically and business-wise, we are fully ready, so the implementation can go on schedule on April 30,” she said, as quoted in CNBC.

Prior to the official launch, Bank Indonesia had already carried out trial runs of the QRIS cross-border system in China.

The trials recorded transaction volumes of 1.64 million transactions with a total value equivalent to around Rp556 billion. This reflects strong readiness and market demand.

The rollout will involve 24 Indonesian participants, comprising 16 banks and eight non-bank institutions.

On the Chinese side, 19 participants will join the system. They will help ensure interoperability between the digital payment networks of the two countries.

The move will allow Indonesian travelers, businesspeople, and consumers to use QRIS when they are in China. This enables seamless cashless payments without heavy reliance on physical cash or separate international payment platforms.

This is a development that adds China to the ever-growing list of countries linked to Indonesia’s cross-border payment ecosystem, QRIS.

Bank Indonesia has officially launched QRIS in South Korea on April 1, 2026, this month. Before this, QRIS had been rolled out in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan.

The cross-border QRIS initiative is part of a wider strategy to promote local currency transactions and reduce reliance on global payment intermediaries. It also aims to improve transaction efficiencies for Indonesians traveling abroad.

“The expansion also adds to Indonesia’s digital financial infrastructure and regional competitiveness in the fast-growing fintech sector of Southeast Asia,” financial analysts say.

As international mobility and tourism recover, the need for easier and faster payment systems continues to grow for both consumers and businesses.

Bank Indonesia expects the China rollout will significantly boost transaction volumes. This is due to the strong trade and tourism relationship between the two countries.

China’s recent addition to the QRIS network brings Indonesia closer to establishing a broader regional payment system. This system will facilitate faster, more affordable, and more practical cross-border transactions for millions of users.

Stay connected via Google News