(Yicai Global) Jan. 24 -- Liu Qiangdong, founder of Chinese e-commerce behemoth JD.com Inc., held a luncheon with senior executives from over 40 global companies on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The event, which has been referred to as Liu's USD2 Trillion Friendship Circle in Chinese media reports, included figures from the world of information technology, finance, fashion and retail, reported Sohu News today.

Among the invitees were executives from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Adidas AG, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Visa Inc, Mastercard Inc. and United Parcel Service of America Inc., as well as the founder of Tommy Hilfiger Inc. and the owner of Chanel SA. Liu held the event in the Winter Garden at the Hard Rock Hotel.

There has been increasing interest in China's internet industry since the end of 2017, and participation in these types of event has become an opportunity to engage with leading figures from the sector. NetEase Inc. founder Ding Lei is said to have started the practice, and his decision not to invite Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Chairman Jack Ma to one at the World Internet Conference in December last year garnered much media coverage.