Alibaba founder Jack Ma returned to China on Monday, according to the South China Morning Post SCMP, ending a more than year-long sojourn overseas that was viewed by industry as reflecting the sober mood of China's private businesses.
Ma, one of China's best known entrepreneurs, left mainland China in late 2021 and has been seen in photographs in Japan, Australia and Thailand in the past few months.
One of the country's most outspoken businessmen, he retreated from the public limelight in late 2020 after criticising China's regulatory system that was later blamed for a wide-ranging regulatory crackdown by Beijing.
Chinese entrepreneurs said that Ma's decision to stay overseas was a factor that hindered confidence, even though Chinese authorities said in recent months they had ended the crackdown and would look for ways to support the private sector.
After the SCMP report was published, Hong Kong's shares increased by more than 4%.
The report did not state when Ma returned to China, but cited sources said he visited a school he founded in Hangzhou, the home of Alibaba and the financial technology firm Ant Group.
He returned to China after a short stop in Hong Kong.
Alibaba did not respond to requests for comment. The school, Yungu Education, said on Monday that Ma had visited its premises and posted photographs as well as a video of the Alibaba founder at the school.
Ma recently relinquished control over Ant Group, a Chinese fintech giant, in an overhaul that seeks to draw a line under a wider regulatory crackdown.