Allow 'great meeting' to produce great results

Many businesspeople outside the United States have been worried about the potential havoc the incoming administration in the United States may cause to global trade and the possibility of souring relations with the world's second-largest economy, given some of the comments made by Donald Trump and his team members during and after his presidential election campaign.

Trump's meeting with Jack Ma, leader of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, on Monday may help to reassure them that his administration will not shut the door on the US market and is willing to work with businesspeople around the world.

The two men had a "great meeting", according to Trump, and Ma promised he will use his hugely successful multi-portal e-commerce platform, the largest in China and one of the largest in the world, to create jobs in the US by helping small and medium-sized businesses and farmers sell their products and services in China and Asia.