Apple and Alibaba could join forces on mobile payments in China

Apple’s love fest with China may further extend to include Alibaba, following suggestions from both companies that a tieup in mobile payment could be a possibility. Speaking separately Tuesday at the WSJDLive tech conference in California, U.S., Alibaba’s head honcho Jack Ma and Apple CEO Tim Cook said they were open to a partnership involving their mobile payment systems Alipay Wallet and Apple Pay, reported Bloomberg.

Apple’s Tim Cook and Alibaba’s Jack Ma speaking separately at a technology conference yesterday, said they’re open to working together on projects that would turn phones into tools for buying and selling stuff. Cook and Ma, appearing yesterday at the WSJDLive tech conference in Laguna Beach, California, spoke of collaboration on mobile payments. “I’m very interested in that,” Ma, founder of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA), said when asked if it made sense for his company’s Alipay Wallet mobile system to team with Apple Pay. “As always, a good marriage needs both sides hard working. I respect Apple and respect Tim very, very much.” Cook, who was sitting in the audience, took to the stage afterward and was asked about the possibility of a partnership.