Chongqing - China's internet platforms are furthering their interconnectivity. Alibaba's online shopping platforms Taobao and Tmall announced on Wednesday that they will add Tencent's WeChat Pay as a payment option.

The announcement stated that they plan to add WeChat Pay to enhance consumers' shopping experiences. After the opinion collection period ends, the platform rules will be adjusted. This adjustment will affect all Taobao and Tmall merchants.

The Economic Observer reported on Wednesday that Taobao App customer service said, "To enhance the shopping experience, we are currently inviting merchants in phases to enable WeChat Pay."

In this regard, WeChat Pay stated that functionality adaptation for Taobao platform merchants is currently underway. For specific launch dates, please refer to announcements from the Taobao platform.

As Taobao's primary payment service provider, Alipay responded by emphasizing that openness, collaboration, innovation, and sharing are fundamental to the internet and industry development trends. Alipay will continue to deepen its strategic partnership with Taobao&Tmall Group, focusing on technological and product innovations to create greater value for merchants and consumers.

Alipay also stated that openness fosters a brighter future. It will enhance collaboration in internet technology, AI products, and broader ecosystems to support the vitality and prosperity of the digital economy and expand commercial opportunities on its platform.

Alipay partnered with internet giant Meituan on the same day, announcing that Meituan's online takeaway and hotel-booking platforms have launched Alipay mini-programs simultaneously.

Interconnectivity is accelerating across various sectors. In May, JD Finance and the wallets of China's telecom operators announced plans to achieve interconnectivity with WeChat Pay's commercial receiving payment codes. This will offer users more payment options without adding new codes or altering platform payment functions.

According to Beijing Daily, Ding Daoshi, an Internet industry analyst, believes that the industry's interconnectivity aligns with national policy guidance and brings tangible benefits to consumers.

Ding pointed out recent collaborations, such as Douyin, China's version of TikTok, and Alibaba's food delivery arm Ele.me, Chinese video-sharing platform Kuaishou and Meituan, demonstrate the accelerating trend of "breaking down walls" in the internet industry.

Companies are shifting from competition to cooperation, accelerating the removal of barriers and reducing customer acquisition costs. Ding added that reduced platform competition lowers costs for consumers, allowing them to purchase products at lower prices and get better services.