NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 9: (L to R) Michael Evans (R), President of Alibaba Group, looks on as President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Jack Ma, Chairman of Alibaba Group, following their meeting at Trump Tower, January 9, 2017 in New York City. President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration. Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==
BEIJING: Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Donald Trump made headlines with the Chinese entrepreneur’s attention-grabbing pledge to create one million US jobs, but analysts say the move is more about generating good PR than substance.
The splashy promise from Trump Tower was a strategic decision by Ma to win goodwill from the next US president and hedge against political risks to Alibaba’s vast online shopping business over counterfeits, independent e-commerce analyst Li Chengdong told AFP.
