Xi Jinping’s Meeting with Business Leaders Spurs Alibaba’s $52 Billion AI Investment

The high-profile event marked Jack Ma’s return to public life and signaled renewed government support for private enterprises in China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a closed-door meeting with major business leaders, including Alibaba founder Jack Ma, in February 2025.
The meeting has been credited with boosting confidence among private enterprises, prompting significant investment commitments in AI and technology sectors.
Alibaba announced a $52 billion investment in cloud computing and AI infrastructure over three years, its largest-ever tech spending project.
The event marked Jack Ma’s return to the public spotlight after years of low-profile appearances following regulatory crackdowns on his businesses.
Analysts suggest the meeting signals Beijing’s strategic alignment of private companies with national priorities, particularly in the global AI race against the U.S.