Richard Liu

TMTPOST -- 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 Eddie Wu. 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 China's broader efforts to boost confidence in the private economy. His presence among China’s most influential technology executives, including Alibaba’s Eddie Wu, underscores the renewed visibility of leading Chinese entrepreneurs as the government signals greater support for private innovation and international collaboration.