The People's Bank of China and the Bank of the Lao PDR have launched cross-border digital payment interoperability between China and Laos, marking a concrete step in bilateral financial cooperation. The central banks held a joint launch event in Nanning, attended by officials, commercial banks and participating companies. The initiative is an interim outcome under the memorandum of understanding on financial innovation, digital payments and central bank digital currency cooperation signed by the two central banks in June 2026. That agreement accompanied the renewal of the bilateral renminbi-Lao kip local currency swap arrangement.
2026-09-18Central Bank of the Republic of China
People's Bank of China and Bank of the Lao PDR launch cross-border digital payment interoperability
The People's Bank of China and the Bank of the Lao PDR have launched cross-border digital payment interoperability between the two countries. The initiative follows their June 2026 memorandum on financial innovation, digital payments and central bank digital currency cooperation.