Chinese Alibaba billionaire Jack Ma appointed as business adviser to UK prime minister Cameron
.png?itok=arIb17P0)
One of China’s top businessmen, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, has been appointed by British Prime Minister David Cameron to advise him on business, the UK government said.
The announcement came the day before a four-day state visit to Britain by President Xi Jinping and as Britain seeks to boost its business ties with the world’s second-largest economy.
Cameron’s spokeswoman told reporters the two would meet later on Monday and that Ma, currently executive chairman of the e-commerce company Alibaba, would be joining the prime minister’s business advisory group.
The e-commerce boss will provide help and advice on how to get small and medium sized British businesses boosting their exports and gain access to Chinese markets through platforms like Alibaba.
Cameron and his finance minister George Osborne believe that close ties with China are vital to cementing Britain’s economic growth in decades to come.
Human rights activists accuse the centre-right Conservative government of kowtowing to China and the state visit is expected to be accompanied by protests.
Cameron’s business advisory group had 19 members in July, most of them chief executives of top British companies, including the heads of BP, EasyJet and Rolls-Royce.
Members are not paid for their services.
