Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over a meeting with Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma and other prominent entrepreneurs on Monday, signaling Beijing’s endorsement for a long-marginalized private sector now considered key to reviving the world’s No.

Few China watchers expect the government to revert to its pre-2020 stance, even as it seeks to shore up the economy for a potential trade war with the US under President Donald Trump

President Xi Jinping held a rare meeting on Monday with some of the biggest names in China's technology sector, such as Alibaba founder Jack Ma, urging them to "show their talent" and be confident in the power of China's model and market.