How to evaluate the cross-border payment system? Zhou Xiaochuan believes that "adaptability" is more important than "instant settlement."

**　　【Caixin Net】** When former People’s Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan discussed evaluation criteria for cross-border payment systems, he said that a good payment system is not a winner in a single technology or a single performance metric. Just as instant payment (instant payment) is not necessarily good, the most important thing is “adaptation.”

He made the above remarks when he attended the Boao Forum for Asia 2026 Annual Conference on March 26. Zhou Xiaochuan pointed out that some say a good payment system should pursue “funds credited within 1 second” or “within a few tenths of a second,” and even advocate instant payments. However, most users’ transactions do not have such needs; sometimes payment is made only after the goods arrive.

Zhou Xiaochuan further analyzed that there needs to be a balance between the convenience and compliance of payments, and behind that is regulatory adaptability.