RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Digital payments are becoming a new bridge in Indonesia–China relations, with the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing highlighting how Chinese tourists can now shop at local Indonesian stalls and minimarkets simply by scanning with cross-border QRIS.

“With this connectivity, Indonesian travelers can pay for essentials in seconds, while Chinese tourists can easily scan payments at local shops across Indonesia,” Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun said during the soft launch of the system in Beijing, China, on Thursday, April 30, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) is Indonesia’s national QR payment system, designed by Bank Indonesia to unify all QR-based transactions into one standard code. It enables faster, safer, and more inclusive digital payments, supporting both domestic and cross-border transactions.

The initiative soft-launched in Beijing currently integrates QRIS with Alipay, though expansion to WeChat Pay and UnionPay is expected. Ambassador Djauhari noted that seamless payments will eliminate hidden barriers, such as card incompatibility or currency exchange challenges, enhancing visitor satisfaction and boosting spending.

Beyond tourism, the system elevates Indonesia’s digital payment ecosystem onto the global stage. “China has built one of the world’s most advanced cashless economies. By integrating with their system, Indonesia gains a strong and proven foundation,” Ambassador Djauhari explained.

He added that Indonesian fintech firms, banks, and payment gateways now have opportunities to learn, compete, and expand internationally.

“For centuries, trade, culture, and spices connected our nations across the seas. Today, digital payments are the new connector, showing that our relationship is deep, practical, and future-ready,” Ambassador Djauhari emphasized.

In 2025, 1.34 million Chinese tourists visited Indonesia, while Indonesian travelers increasingly explored destinations such as Chongqing, Chengdu, and Harbin. The grand launch of cross-border QRIS is scheduled for June 2026 in Shanghai, alongside the Indonesia-China Joint Work Program Summit.

From Indonesia’s side, 24 providers -- 16 banks and 8 non-bank institutions -- are involved, while 19 providers in China are ready to support the system.

Since the pilot began in August 2025, inbound transactions (Chinese users in Indonesia) reached 1.64 million, valued at IDR 556 billion (USD 32.3 million), while outbound transactions (Indonesians in China) totaled around 8,000, worth IDR 6.4 billion (USD 371,000).

The rollout marks a significant step in making travel between the two countries smoother, while positioning Indonesia’s payment systems as competitive players in the global digital economy.

QRIS is a game changer for Indonesia’s digital economy, streamlining payments for businesses and consumers while strengthening financial inclusion. Its cross-border expansion enhances tourism, trade, and people-to-people connectivity, making it a cornerstone of Indonesia’s digital financial infrastructure. ***