Is Ant Financial part of Alibaba?

As a keen observer of the cryptocurrency and financial landscape, I'm curious to delve deeper into the intricate relationships between major players in the industry. One such relationship that has piqued my interest is the potential connection between Ant Financial and Alibaba. Could you elaborate on whether Ant Financial is indeed a part of Alibaba? What is the extent of this association? Does it operate as an independent entity within the Alibaba Group, or is it a tightly integrated component? Any insights into how this partnership, if it exists, has shaped the financial services landscape would be greatly appreciated.