Chinese technology company Tencent and global payment network Visa signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at simplifying cross-border payments, expanding money transfer capabilities, and promoting the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in e-commerce.
Tencent and Visa announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to develop joint payment solutions for consumers and businesses in China and other markets. The partnership will cover cross-border settlements, money transfers, AI-powered shopping automation, and support for businesses expanding internationally.
Under the agreement, the companies plan to combine Tencent’s payment services, digital platforms, and cloud technologies with Visa’s global infrastructure.
The agreement covers 4 key areas of cooperation:
- Cross-Border Payments. Developing solutions based on TenPay Global and Visa Pay to enable travelers to make purchases through the Weixin Pay and Visa networks.
- International Money Transfers. Expanding integration with Visa Direct to simplify remittances from overseas into the Weixin Pay ecosystem.
- Agentic Commerce. Developing technologies that allow AI assistants to find, select, and purchase goods and services under user supervision.
- International Business Support. Improving payment tools and risk management capabilities for companies operating in overseas markets.
One of the partnership’s main priorities will be developing payment infrastructure for travelers visiting China and Chinese citizens traveling abroad. The companies plan to use the TenPay Global cross-border payment platform and Visa Pay to develop solutions that enable purchases at participating merchants through the Weixin Pay and Visa networks.
The partners also plan to focus on developing payments powered by AI systems. In particular, Tencent and Visa will explore the capabilities of the Visa Intelligent Commerce platform, which supports the development of shopping solutions involving AI agents. These systems are expected to automate certain stages of purchasing goods and services while keeping consumers in control of transactions.
The partnership will also extend to Tencent’s overseas AI projects. The companies previously agreed to collaborate in the gaming industry through the Midas payment platform, focusing on international settlements, money transfers, and risk management.
The new agreement builds on Tencent and Visa’s existing partnership serving international tourists in China. In October 2026, Visa also received preliminary approval from the People’s Bank of China to establish its own bank card clearing institution in the country. According to a statement from the regulator, the company must complete the preparatory procedures within 1 year before applying for a license to operate in the domestic market.
Forest Lin, Vice President of Tencent and Head of Tencent Financial Technology, attributed the expansion of the partnership to growing travel and trade flows between China and other countries.
Dowson Tong, Senior Executive Vice President of Tencent and CEO of the Cloud and Smart Industries Group, said combining Tencent Cloud’s capabilities with Visa’s international payment network would improve user experiences and create additional business opportunities.
Elaine Chang, Visa’s representative in mainland China, emphasized that the development of digital commerce will depend on the integration of payment ecosystems and the adoption of AI solutions while maintaining security and consumer control.
In April 2026, Visa introduced Intelligent Commerce Connect, a solution that enables businesses worldwide to use AI agents in e-commerce to process payments and make purchases.
