On May 15, Chinese business leaders mingled with key figures from American corporations at a formal state dinner in Beijing, honoring the visit of the U.S. President. This event offered a rare chance for both sides to deepen relationships and discuss potential collaborations.
Leading entrepreneurs from sectors like technology, manufacturing, and aerospace attended. Notable among them were Yang Yuanqing, CEO of the computing company Lenovo; Lei Jun, the founder and head of Xiaomi; Liang Rubo, CEO of TikTok’s parent company ByteDance; Jia Shaoqian, chairman of electronics manufacturer Hisense; Zhou Qunfei, chairwoman of Lens Technology; Lu Weiding, chairman of auto parts producer Wanxiang Group; and Cao Hui, chairman of Fuyao Glass Industry Group. Footage from China Central Television and onsite observations confirmed their presence.
Fuyao Glass ranks among the world’s top automotive glass suppliers, with founder Cao Dewang drawing Western media attention for his manufacturing investments in the U.S. Lens Technology, based in Changsha, supplies display glass to brands like Apple and Samsung.
In the aviation industry, Liu Tiexiang, chair of China National Aviation Holding, and He Dongfeng, head of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, joined the dinner. Their tables were also attended by Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg and Larry Culp, the CEO of GE Aerospace. The last major aircraft deal with China from Boeing occurred during President Trump’s 2017 visit. Additionally, Shanghai-based COMAC and Boeing have partnered to operate a joint Completion and Delivery Center in Zhoushan, which handles interior assembly, painting, and delivery of 737 MAX planes.
The American delegation boasted over a dozen corporate leaders, including Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon, according to Xinhua News Agency. Huang sat alongside Chinese executives Jia, Zhou, Lu, and Cao feature. Nvidia, based in Santa Clara, is the world’s leading provider of AI chips, but US export restrictions on China make Huang’s visit particularly significant for the markets.
Many US business leaders expressed continued optimism about China’s future. Amon noted, “China has a vibrant economy and will remain a vital part of the global supply chain.” Cook highlighted the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation, while Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon pointed out that with China’s current development plans, steady economic growth is expected.
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