Photo provided by German department store retailer Breuninger shows a customer using Alibaba's Alipay at Breuninger store in Dusseldorf, Germany, June 29, 2018. Breuninger on Friday announced to introduce two Chinese mobile payment platforms -- Alibaba's Alipay and Tencent's Wechat Pay. (Photo:Xinhua)

In response to national initiatives aimed at boosting consumption, multiple Chinese online platforms are advancing efforts to allow interoperability among different payment channels. This move, combined with the distribution of consumer vouchers and promotions for trade-ins, is set to significantly elevate China's consumption recovery.

Taobao and Tmall, two major Chinese online shopping platforms under Alibaba, announced plans on Wednesday to integrate Weixin Pay to enhance the shopping experience for consumers. This adjustment is expected to be available to all merchants on both platforms, potentially breaking down barriers between different services and making shopping more convenient for users.

China's e-commerce platforms are actively aligning with the country's efforts to stimulate consumption and unlock consumption potential. Previously, platforms including JD.com and Suning.com supported the use of government-issued consumer vouchers for online purchases, further facilitating convenient shopping.

Regarding the integration of Weixin Pay, WeChat informed the Global Times on Wednesday that the adaptation of Weixin Pay with Taobao merchants is currently underway, and the specific launch date will be announced on the Taobao platform soon.

Weixin Pay is consistently open to collaborations, actively exploring interoperability with various sectors. It has formed partnerships with China UnionPay QuickPass, JD Pay and the digital yuan. WeChat plans to continue exploring new partnerships, while ensuring transaction security and improving convenience for users, according to WeChat.

Experts believe that dismantling payment barriers between major internet platforms in China will promote the healthy development of the digital economy, enhance platform interoperability and unlock consumption potential.

As two of China's primary online shopping platforms, Taobao and Tmall's support for another internet giant's payment method, Weixin Pay, allows consumers more freedom to choose their preferred shopping platforms and payment methods. This enhances the shopping experience, stimulates consumption potential and fosters market prosperity, Liu Dingding, a veteran industry observer, told the Global Times on Wednesday.