Richard Liu

Richard Liu, the founder of JD.com, is stepping back into the public eye after years of relative quiet, with plans to deliver a keynote speech at the 2025 World Internet Conference in Wuzhen.

Liu, who serves as chairman of JD.com Group, will speak at the conference ’ s opening ceremony this morning, ahead of Alibaba Group CEO Wu Yongming. The high-profile appearance marks Liu ’ s first return to the Wuzhen conference since 2017.

Liu has largely maintained a low profile since an incident in 2018 led him to withdraw from frequent public engagements. His reemergence this year comes amid a broader revival of China ’ s private business sector and follows a series of public appearances that signal his renewed influence in corporate and policy circles.

In June, Liu served as co-chair at the Summer Davos Forum, where he joined other global business leaders in a roundtable discussion. The following month, he attended the China-European Entrepreneurs Roundtable as a representative of Chinese private enterprises. Most recently, he appeared at the APEC summit in South Korea alongside his wife, Nancy Zhang Zetian, in a public outing that drew widespread attention on Chinese social media.

Liu ’ s return coincides with improving sentiment toward China ’ s private sector. The country ’ s new Private Economy Promotion Law, implemented earlier this year, has strengthened policy support for privately owned enterprises. Liu has publicly voiced optimism about the business environment, saying he believes "China ’ s private enterprises will only get better and better."

JD.com has also seen a strong rebound under Liu ’ s renewed leadership. The e-commerce giant posted its fastest quarterly revenue growth in nearly three years during the first quarter of 2025, a sign of improving consumer confidence and operational recovery.

Liu ’ s reappearance at Wuzhen marks not just a personal comeback but also reflects Beijing ’ s broader efforts to restore confidence in the private economy. His presence among China ’ s most influential technology executives, including Alibaba ’ s Wu Yongming, underscores the renewed visibility of the country ’ s leading entrepreneurs as Beijing signals greater support for private innovation and international collaboration.

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