BEIJING, China: Alibaba executive chairman and Internet entrepreneur Jack Ma is now adviser to the Malaysian government on digital economy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today.
Barely minutes into his speech at the launch of Alitrip Malaysia Tourism Pavilion at the China World Hotel here, Najib said he could not wait to share some good news.
“Jack Ma has accepted our invitation to be adviser to the Malaysian government on digital economy. He will advise us and tell us how to put together the road, the path to the future,” he said.
Najib said Ma has also agreed to attend Malaysia’s Global Transformation Forum, and to take advantage of his visit to Malaysia, to launch the e-Free Trade Zone in March next year.
“We will work at super speed to make this happen. We will make this happen,” Najib said.
In his speech earlier, Ma said he had a "wonderful discussion" with Najib on what they can do together both in China and Malaysia.
“I am very excited about what we’re going to do next year and in the years ahead,” he said.
Ma also paid tribute to Tun Abdul Razak’s decision 42 years ago to establish diplomatic relations with China, which has led to the current strong ties between both countries’ leaders, businesses and people.