Jack Ma presents a calendar of German Cities dated to 1954 as a gift to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the opening of CeBIT 2015 technology fair in Hanover, Germany, March 15, 2015. Jack Ma announced in an open letter that he will step down in a year's time as the chair of the company he founded 20 years previous. (Photo: IC)

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Jack Ma shake hands during a session connected to the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia, October 19, 2017. Jack Ma announced in an open letter that he will step down in a year's time as the chair of the company he founded 20 years previous. (Photo: IC)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa walks with Jack Ma during the African leader's visit to the Xixi Campus and headquarters of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, September 5, 2018. Jack Ma announced in an open letter that he will step down in a year's time as the chair of the company he founded 20 years previous. (Photo: IC)

U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by Jack Ma, Alibaba's Co-founder and Chairman, speaks with reporters after a meeting at Trump Tower in New York, January 9, 2017. Jack Ma announced in an open letter that he will step down in a year's time as the chair of the company he founded 20 years previous. (Photo: IC)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Jack Ma shake hands during their meeting at the Fortune 500 Global Forum in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, December 6, 2017. Jack Ma announced in an open letter that he will step down in a year's time as the chair of the company he founded 20 years previous. (Photo: IC)

Jack Ma speaks with French president Emmanuel Macron during the United Nations General Assembly week in New York, September 20, 2017. Jack Ma announced in an open letter that he will step down in a year's time as the chair of the company he founded 20 years previous. (Photo: IC)