The first reported public sighting of Mr Ma for three years was in January this year. Mr Ma has been travelling to different countries to learn about agricultural technology, but made no reference as to why he had disappeared from public view in recent years.

Once the richest man in China, Mr Ma gave up control of financial technology giant Ant Group in January this year. In October 2020, Mr Ma told a financial conference that traditional banks had a "pawn-shop mentality".

The following month, Ant's planned £26bn stock market flotation, which would have been the world's largest, was cancelled at the last minute by Chinese authorities, who cited "major issues" over regulating the firm.

Since then, there have been reported sightings of him in various countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Thailand and Australia.

Last November, the Financial Times newspaper said he had been seen in Tokyo, Japan. This led to rumours that he had been placed under house arrest or otherwise detained.

 

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