On September 18, 2026, the People's Bank of China and the Bank of the Lao People's Democratic Republic jointly held the China Laos Cross border Digital Payment Interconnection Launch Conference in Nanning, Guangxi. Vice Governor of the People's Bank of China, Lu Lei, and Vice Governor of the Bank of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Surissak Samnuong, attended and delivered speeches. The interconnection of cross-border digital payments between China and Laos is an important measure to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and deepen bilateral financial cooperation. It is also a milestone achievement under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Financial Innovation, Digital Payments, and Legal Digital Currency Cooperation signed by the central bank governors of both sides in June 2026. A high-speed digital payment channel has officially opened from Nanning to Vientiane.

Barcode payment realizes cross-border interoperability

In terms of barcode payment interoperability, the Digital RMB International Operation Center has established and operated the Digital RMB Cross border Settlement Comprehensive Service Platform, which has completed cross-border system connectivity with the Laotian national payment network, achieving cross-border interoperability between digital RMB and local barcode payments in Laos. By the end of 2025, real transaction verification has been completed and both internal and external functions have been implemented, allowing Chinese residents to use digital RMB wallets opened by digital RMB business operators to scan and pay at local commercial banks and acquiring merchants in Laos. At present, China and Laos are jointly promoting functional upgrades and scene expansion to further facilitate personnel exchanges and cultural tourism consumption between the two countries.

Realize closed-loop payment in economic and trade settlement

In terms of economic and trade settlement interoperability, some local banks in Laos have connected to the Digital Currency Cross border Settlement Comprehensive Service Platform and opened new trade settlement and investment and financing services, supporting 24/7 digital, intelligent, and convenient closed-loop cross-border payment settlement and investment and financing business, and promoting economic and trade exchanges between the two countries. This service model provides more efficient and convenient settlement channels for bilateral trade enterprises, reducing the time cost and operational complexity of cross-border transactions, and further consolidating the financial infrastructure of China Laos economic and trade cooperation. Keywords: the Belt and Road news network, cross-border payment, international

Policy coordination ensures smooth operation

Next, the People's Bank of China will strengthen policy communication and regulatory coordination with banks in the Lao People's Democratic Republic to ensure smooth and orderly operation of cross-border digital payment interconnection between China and Laos, guide relevant participating institutions to continuously optimize customer experience, expand application scope in an orderly manner, and serve high-level opening up to the outside world. Officials from relevant departments of the central banks of China and Laos, as well as officials from commercial banks and participating enterprises, attended the meeting. From system connection to real transaction verification, from barcode interoperability to economic and trade settlement closed-loop, China Laos cross-border digital payment cooperation is providing replicable practical samples for regional financial interconnectivity.Editor/Gao Xue