Alibaba to Allow Taobao Shoppers to Check Out Through WeChat Pay

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate China’s online payment landscape, jointly capturing over 90% of the market.

China’s two internet giants Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. have taken another step toward breaking down long-standing barriers between their platforms.

Alibaba will finally allow shoppers on its Taobao platform to check out via Tencent’s WeChat Pay. In the past, Alibaba favored Alipay, the digital payment created by its affiliate Ant Group Co.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go.

Get our weekly free Must-Read newsletter.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

Alibaba and Tencent are collaborating to enable WeChat Pay on Alibaba's Taobao platform.
The move signifies a broader trend toward interoperability among Chinese internet giants, prompted in part by regulatory pressure since 2021.
Economic challenges and stricter regulations are driving these companies to overcome past barriers and seek new partnerships for growth.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is a major Chinese internet giant that is moving toward greater interoperability with Tencent Holdings Ltd. It has allowed Tencent’s WeChat Pay on its Taobao platform, a significant step from its traditional preference for Alipay. This shift is part of a broader trend driven by economic necessity and regulatory encouragement, aiming for open cooperation in the internet sector.

Tencent Holdings Ltd.: Tencent Holdings Ltd. is one of China's two internet giants, alongside Alibaba Group. Recently, Tencent has been working toward greater interoperability with Alibaba, particularly by integrating WeChat Pay with Alibaba's Taobao platform. Tencent has also been expanding partnerships, such as allowing its flagship game Honor of Kings to stream on ByteDance's TikTok. These moves are partly driven by economic pressures and regulatory constraints.

ByteDance Ltd.: ByteDance Ltd., the parent company of TikTok, has also been opening up to cooperation with rivals. In early 2024, Tencent’s flagship game Honor of Kings began live streaming on TikTok. This move towards collaboration is driven by economic necessity, as companies seek partnerships to sustain business amidst a slow recovery from the pandemic and stricter regulations.

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When

September 2021：: Regulatory authorities encouraged greater openness in the internet sector, prompting the move to break down digital walls.

April 2023：: Alibaba’s office software, DingTalk, began allowing WeChat users to join meetings without having to use its DingTalk app.

Since 2023：: Cooperation between Alibaba and Tencent has accelerated.

Early 2024：: Tencent’s flagship game Honor of Kings began live streaming on TikTok.

2024-09-04：: Alibaba’s Taobao Tmall platform announced it is collecting feedback on allowing shoppers to check out via Tencent’s WeChat Pay.

AI generated, for reference only

GALLERY

: Gallery: China Lights Up for Mid-Autumn Festival

NEWSLETTERS

Get our CX Daily, weekly Must-Read and China Green Bulletin newsletters delivered free to your inbox, bringing you China's top headlines.

We ‘ve added you to our subscriber list.

Manage subscription

PODCAST

Caixin Biz Roundup: Indonesia Woos Chinese Investment in Solar, EV Battery Production

00:00

00:00/00:00

MOST POPULAR

1: Hunan Province Finance Chief’s Deadly Fall Treated as a Criminal Case

2: PwC Hong Kong Next in Firing Line Over Evergrande Scandal

3: In Depth: Punishing People for Their Relatives’ Crimes Comes Under Scrutiny in China

4: China Underscores Commitment to Controlling Vast Government Debt

5: In Depth: Why Hong Kongers Are Flocking to the Mainland for Health Care