Jack Ma talks shop at Davos

By Liu Zheng (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2015-01-23 20:04

Ma, Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, speaks during the session 'An Insight, An Idea with Jack Ma' in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos on January 23, 2015. More than 1,500 business leaders and 40 heads of state or government attend the Jan. 21-24 meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to network and discuss big themes, from the price of oil to the future of the Internet. This year they are meeting in the midst of upheaval, with security forces on heightened alert after attacks in Paris, the European Central Bank considering a radical government bond-buying programme and the safe-haven Swiss franc rocketing. [Photo/Agencies]

Jack Ma, the founder of China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, expressed his confidence about China's slowing economy on Friday at Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum.

Speaking at a seminar named "An Insight, An Idea with Jack Ma" at the World Economic Forum, Ma gave a wide-ranging interview, sharing his childhood experiences, the Alibaba's development process and his view on working with the government.

"Fall in love with the government but don't marry them," He said when asked about the relationship between enterprises and governments.

He gave an example of when Alibaba worked together with Chinese authorities to upgrade 12306.cn, the official online rail ticket booking platform, to help millions of Chinese migrant workers to buy tickets to return home for the upcoming Spring Festival.

"Compared to 15 years ago, we are big. But compared to 15 years later, we are still a baby," he said at the event.

Ma is also ambitious about the firm's future, saying that Alibaba's achievements will one day surpass Walmart.

Ma said he believes the company should act like an electronic world trade organization and serve 2 billion consumers around the world.

He also added that he wanted to aid European and American companies to sell more goods to Chinese consumers and connect to all global nations, giving the example that Norwegian firms would be able to sell their wares to Argentina.

When asked to comment on China's slowing GDP, Ma told the audience that he doesn't worry about it. He said it's time to focus on the quality of the ecomony rather than quantity.

Before the start of the event, some members of the audience posted on social media that attendants have to queue to see the oversold session as tickets were sold out within seconds.