[NY Post] China's top technology hub Hangzhou plans to assign government officials to work with 100 private companies including e-commerce giant Alibaba, according to state media reports, in a move likely to raise concerns over the growing role of the state.Political Commissars to enforce Party over profits, what could go wrong?
The step underscores how Chinese government and party authorities are growing more deeply integrated into the private sector, as its economy sputters amid an intensifying trade war with the United States.
The city of Hangzhou, home to Alibaba, will designate government officials to work with 100 local companies in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the local government said on its website.
The directives, presented as a means to boost the local manufacturing industry, did not name the 100 companies subject to the policy, but state media reports said Alibaba and auto maker Zhejiang Geely would be among the companies.