Trump announces trade deal with EU following months of negotiations
Investing.com -- Alibaba and Tencent (HK:0700) shares surged Friday following a Reuters report that Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to chair a high-profile symposium with top private sector leaders, including Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) co-founder Jack Ma.
Alibaba gained 6%, while Tencent jumped over 7% as investors reacted to the news.
According to Reuters, the meeting, which is expected to take place on Monday, aims to boost confidence in China’s private sector amid economic headwinds and escalating tensions with the United States.
Xi is expected to encourage business leaders, particularly from the tech sector, to expand their operations both domestically and internationally.
Pony Ma, CEO of Tencent, is also slated to attend, along with Xiaomi’s chief executive Lei Jun and Wang Xingxing, the founder of robotics firm Yushu Technology, said Reuters. A Huawei Technologies executive is also expected to be present.
Jack Ma’s attendance is particularly significant, as he has remained largely out of the public eye since Chinese regulators halted the IPO of his fintech company Ant Group in 2020.
His participation could be seen as a sign of Beijing’s willingness to mend relations with private entrepreneurs, said Reuters.
This is the second time Xi has chaired such a symposium since coming to power, with the first occurring in 2018. At the time, he pledged tax cuts and financial support for private firms. The latest meeting could signal renewed backing for China’s private sector.