Alibaba welcomes Tencent’s WeChat Pay as a payment option on its e

Alibaba’s e-commerce marketplaces Taobao and Tmall are planning to accept Tencent’s WeChat Pay as a payment method, breaking down the walls between the two Chinese tech giants that blocked each other’s services and links in the early days. “We have always been open to collaborations,” Alibaba told TechNode, adding that they are constantly working to enhance user experience by making shopping “more convenient, enjoyable, and efficient.” Previously, Taobao and Tmall only accepted Alipay, the scan-and-pay app operated by Alibaba-affiliated Ant Group, as one of the key ways beyond bank cards to place orders. The move comes as Alibaba tries to win back market share in competition with rivals like Pinduoduo and Douyin. [TechNode reporting]