Tencent is the Chinese technology company that owns the WeChat messaging platform and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Tencent was founded in 1998 by Ma Huateng and several co-founders. Its early growth came from internet services and the QQ instant-messaging platform. The company later developed WeChat, known in China as Weixin, which combines messaging, social features, payments, and other services.
Tencent also operates major online-gaming businesses and provides cloud, advertising, and digital-content services. Its broad portfolio has made it one of Asia’s most valuable publicly traded companies, although its market capitalization changes with its share price and regulatory conditions.
Tencent’s primary listing is in Hong Kong under the stock code 700. It is not the same company as Alibaba: Alibaba is best known for e-commerce and cloud services, while Tencent is especially associated with messaging, gaming, and digital platforms.