HONG KONG -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with a group of prominent private entrepreneurs including billionaire Jack Ma on Monday, a sign that Beijing sees the technology industry as a key spark for firing up sluggish economic growth.
Footage shown on Chinese state media confirmed the attendance of Ma, founder of the e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba, who was once thought to be in the government's doghouse. The meeting was chaired by Xi's top adviser, Wang Huning, and also joined by Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang.
