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Walmart, which operates over 400 stores in China, has partnered with WeChat, a mobile-based Chinese social network, to provide a mobile payment solution to its in-store customers, according to Internet Retailer.

Walmart customers are now able to use WeChat’s mobile payment solution WeChat Pay to make in-store purchases. In-store customers can simply present their mobile barcode to the cashier for scanning at checkout to complete a purchase.

Walmart also introduced a new loyalty program for Chinese consumers through WeChat. The mass merchant will offer special deals to consumers who follow its WeChat account. Additionally, Walmart launched a digital gift-card feature through WeChat. Chinese consumers can now virtually purchase Walmart gift cards through WeChat’s platform, and they're also able to send digital gift cards to friends and family through WeChat.

Meanwhile, Walmart reported that its app — which can be used to browse products and find store locations — has been downloaded nearly 200,000 times since the launch of the new omnichannel offerings.

Walmart is shifting away from Chinese e-commerce, as it looks to grow its in-store offerings in the country. Walmart has never sold online in China through its own company website, Wal-Mart.cn. Instead, it opted to sell through Yihaodian, its once-owned Chinese e-commerce subsidiary. But Walmart sold Yihaodian in June to JD.com in exchange for a 5% stake in the company’s e-commerce business.

Walmart China is now listed as a preferred retailer on JD.com's online-to-offline delivery platform JV Dada, a move intended to help Walmart grow its retail business in China. And its most recent offerings compliment this strategy, as the integration with WeChat is largely aimed at boosting in-store activity and better engaging with customers onsite.

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