China’s Xi Jinping to chair symposium attended by Jack Ma and other business leaders: Sources

Chinese President Xi Jinping rarely chairs symposiums about the private sector. PHOTO: REUTERS

UPDATED Feb 14, 2025, 02:54 PM

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BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to chair a symposium to boost private sector sentiment next week that will be attended by the country's business leaders including Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, three people with knowledge of the meeting said.

Mr Xi rarely chairs symposiums about the private sector and the event underscores the numerous challenges currently facing China Inc, from the escalation in tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump to sputtering growth for the domestic economy.

Many of the entrepreneurs will be from the tech sector and Mr Xi is expected to encourage them to expand their businesses domestically and internationally amidst an intensifying Sino-US technology war, two sources said.

The symposium is likely to take place on Feb 17, said three sources.

Mr Pony Ma, the CEO of tech giant Tencent is slated to be there, two sources said. Mr Lei Jun, the chief executive of smartphone and electric vehicle maker Xiaomi as well as Mr Wang Xingxing, the founder of robotics company Yushu Technology, are likely to attend, said one source.