He said that the most impressive moment in his opinion was conversation with Jack Ma, Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group at the closing plenary of CGI 2015.
At a time when the European Union is facing its worst-ever migration crisis, when conflicts persist and trap people in extreme poverty, and when climate change threatens to aggravate these problems, President Bill Clinton urged us members of the global community of the CGI’s 2015 to focus on “trend lines,” instead of on “headlines.”
“The future is going to be forged by people who know how to use the modern tools that we are given to create opportunity through empowerment,” said President Clinton.
In my opinion and following the impression from the opportunity to meet Jack Ma at the CGI, the founder and executive chairman of Alibaba is exactly that kind of leader who will help build a shared global future, Mr Knezevic wrote.
The CGI participants had opportunity to listen to Jack Ma in the closing plenary of Clinton Global Initiative when President Clinton moderated a conversation with him and Elizabeth Holmes, Founder and CEO, Theranos. It was conversation on co-creating a future rooted in peace, equality, and opportunity for all.
Mr Knezevic stressed he was particularly impressed by E-commerce billionaire’s thought on China economy.
Alibaba founder thinks Americans should stop worrying so much about China and furthermore stated that his country’s savings rate and impending transition to a consumer-led economy mean China can weather a global slowdown. He suggested that China watchers usually get their prognostications wrong.
“You American people worry too much about the China economy,” Ma said at the annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting. “Every time you think China is a problem, we get better, but when you have a high expectation for China, China is always a problem.”
Despite a much-discussed domestic slowdown, China has a quality that America doesn’t, which could take its economy through tough times, the tech leader said.
“People say ‘Well you know the economy’s bad, so China consumption will be low.’ No, totally different,” Ma said. “You Americans love to spend tomorrow’s money, and other people’s money maybe. … We Chinese love to save money.”
Ma said Chinese consumers are among the world’s biggest savers.
In fact, the World Bank ranks China fourth among measured areas in terms of gross savings as a percent of GDP.
Remarks of the Alibaba founder were highly praised by the global community of leaders gathered at the closing of CGI 2015.
“I strongly believe that Ma got it right. Being one of the most important influencer on the global stage, China, with the projects like Alibaba and leaders like Jack Ma, will for sure keep getting stronger and expanding its economy and fostering by that global growth. He is making difference on the global e-commerce stage and world business in general too, and having opportunity to exchange opinions with him I am positively sure he will continue to do so in the future”, Mr Knezevic concluded.
