Malaysian PM visits Alibaba on his first stop in China

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on his first stop in China on Saturday, reports the People's Daily.

Mahathir met with Jack Ma, CEO of Alibaba, and said that he was looking forward to Ma sharing some innovation ideas with him so that Malaysia companies can learn from Alibaba in the information and technology era.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, left, meets with Jack Ma, CEO of China e-commerce giant Alibaba Group at the headquarters of Alibaba in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on August 18, 2018. [Photo:IC]

Ma demonstrated to Mathathir Alibaba's newest artificial intelligence technologies, such as the inclusive finance, the wisdom logistics and the city brain. The Malaysian Prime Minister was impressed with the company's ideas in its use of modern technology after being briefed on the company's AI technologies.

"I hope that Malaysia could tap on your innovative ideas so that we can benefit too from modern technology," Mahathir said. Earlier, he was visiting the Alibaba headquarters.

"Alibaba should share its technologies with the world, Alibaba's first step toward the globe is let our technology to provide better services to the young people," Jack Ma said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, left, meets with Jack Ma, CEO of China e-commerce giant Alibaba Group at the headquarters of Alibaba in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on August 18, 2018. [Photo:IC]

Mahathir proposed a plan named "Multimedia Super Corridor" to further develop Malaysia's IT industry in 1995, and he has made great efforts to develop the IT industry in Malaysia over the past 23 years. He said he believes Jack ma is the person who knows internet the best, which was one of the reasons he wanted to visit Alibaba on his first stop in China.