Indonesia, China launch cross-border QRIS payment

Indonesia and China have launched cross-border QR interoperability, marking a significant milestone in deepening financial cooperation and accelerating digital payment integration between the two countries.

The initiative, introduced by Bank Indonesia on Thursday, enables users from both countries to conduct retail payments seamlessly by scanning QR codes across borders.

The system is expected to support tourism, trade activities, and people-to-people exchanges, while reinforcing regional payment connectivity across Asia.

The collaboration reflects a broader push by Bank Indonesia to promote local currency transactions and reduce reliance on global reserve currencies in cross-border payments, particularly the U.S. dollar.

Speaking at the launching ceremony in Jakarta, Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo emphasized that the linkage demonstrated tangible progress in bilateral financial integration.

"Now, whether Indonesians go to China or Chinese visitors come to Indonesia, they can use QRIS. Just use your mobile phone," he said.

The initiative is built on a direct local currency settlement mechanism between the Indonesian rupiah and the Chinese yuan, allowing transactions to bypass third-party currencies. This system is expected to reduce exchange rate risks, lower transaction costs, and enhance financial autonomy for both countries.

Indonesia, China launch cross-border QRIS payment

Iran's mission to the United Nations on Saturday described the United States as "extremely shameful" for its non-compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

"For 56 years, the U.S.-- possessor of thousands of nuclear warheads and the No. 1 proliferator of such weapons -- has been in clear non-compliance with its nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament obligations under Articles I and VI of the NPT," said the mission in a post on social media platform X.

The mission said the U.S. should not be given any cover for its outrageous and hypocritical behavior.

Legally, there is no restriction on the level of uranium enrichment, so long as it is conducted under the IAEA’s supervision, as was the case with Iran, it said.

The NPT, signed in 1968 and effective since March 5, 1970, is the only treaty that contains legally binding commitments to pursuing nuclear disarmament. A total of 191 states have joined the treaty, including the five nuclear-weapon states, making the NPT the most widely adhered to multilateral disarmament agreement.

According to the NPT, a review conference is held every five years to assess the treaty's implementation.

Iran's UN mission criticizes US non-compliance with NPT as 'extremely shameful'