According to a posting on Alibaba's official Weibo social-media account, Putin asked Ma about his retirement. He said, "I'd like to ask that young man sitting over there eating Russian snacks, Jack Ma, you are still so young, why are you retiring?"

Jack Ma was a bit confused but he told Putin he was no longer a young man. "I spent my 54th birthday in Russia yesterday," Ma responded. "I have been [running Alibaba] for 19 years and achieved something, but there are still many things I hope to accomplish, like education and philanthropy."

Putin laughed and said, "You're younger than me, I'm already 66!"

Ma also made several suggestions to Putin, according to mainland China media reports, including the use of online trade road to drive efforts in the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen Sino-Russian technology cooperation, develop trade, tourism, technology and training, as well as increase support for small-and-medium sized businesses and training for young people.



Source: scmp.com