Founder and Chairman of Chinese internet company Alibaba Jack Ma gives a speech at the high profile startups and high tech leaders gathering, Viva Tech, in Paris, France on May 16, 2019. Oct 19 Reuters - Alibaba Holding Ltd 9988. HK founder Jack Ma is in Europe during a study tour, South China Morning PostChina Morning Post reported on Tuesday, making it the first trip of China's Chinese billionaire to Spain in over one year.
Ma, who has largely been out of public view since a speech in Australia last year in which he publicly criticised China's regulatory system, is in Spain for a study tour on agriculture and technology related to environmental issues, the report said, citing a source familiar with Ma's schedule.
He spent private time with this family in Europe before travelling to Hong Kong, according to SCMP, owned by Alibaba.
Alibaba was not immediately available for a comment.
Ma, a globe-trotter not known to shy away from the limelight, retired as Alibaba chairman in 2019?
His empire brought heavy scrutiny by Chinese regulators following the speech, which even led to the suspension of Ant Group's $37 billion blockbuster IPO.