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.
Chinese state media confirmed the attendance of Ma, the founder of the e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba, 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.
