Apple opens an online store on China's most popular social media platform WeChat

Tencent's WeChat social media network said on Tuesday that iPhone manufacturer Apple has created a store on its platform, expanding the U.S. firm's retail channels in the world's second-largest economy.

WeChat, China's main messaging app that also offers e-commerce, livestreaming, and payment services, announced that users will be able to purchase Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs through the shop.

Apple and Tencent did not immediately reply to demands for further information.

Apple's move comes as Chinese customers increasingly purchase on social media platforms like WeChat and ByteDance's Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok.

Apple already has a store on Alibaba Group's Tmall online marketplace in addition to its own shops and website. Apple also attempted live streaming its goods in China for the first time in May, with an hour-long show.

According to Counterpoint Research, China's smartphone sales declined 5% year on year in the first quarter, the country's lowest first-quarter sales total since 2014.

However, Apple earned a 19.9 percent share of the Chinese smartphone market during the quarter, its highest since 2014, as it grew sales by 6 percent year on year in a falling industry, according to the research company.