A delegation led by Jack Ma, the executive chairman of China’s Alibaba Group, paid a visit to Harbin, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province on July 16 -- in an attempt to strengthen commercial investment and business ties.

Zhang Qingwei, Party secretary of northernmost Heilongjiang province, and Wang Wentao, governor of Heilongjiang, extended their warm welcome to the delegation and talked about the measures the province has taken to revitalize one of the three provinces in China’s old Northeast industrial base.

Zhang and Wang expressed their hopes that Abibaba Group could leverage its competitive advantages in platforms, technology, expert staff and capital to deepen cooperation with the province and encourage more Zhejiang enterprises to start businesses in Heilongjiang.

Officials said the government of Heilongjiang would launch more policies and measures to create a better business environment and improve the efficiency of administrative services.

Responding to the call by Heilongjiang officials for closer business ties, Jack Ma gave a presentation about Alibaba’s investment strategy and plans in Heilongjiang, and added that he expected deeper cooperation with the province in the fields of government e-services, digital agriculture, the smart city, finance, mobile payments and tourism.

A signing ceremony for cooperation agreements was held on the day in Harbin.

Government officials from Heilongjiang province meet a delegation led by Jack Ma, executive chairman of China’s Alibaba Group, in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on July 16. [Photo/Heilongjiang Daily]

The Heilongjiang government and Alibaba sign an agreement to deepen their cooperation in the fields of government e-services, digital agriculture, the smart city, finance, mobile payments and tourism in Harbin on July 16. [Photo/Heilongjiang Daily]