A group of Chinese business executives holding U.S. visas arrived in Washington separately from President Xi Jinping’s official delegation ahead of his state visit to the United States, sources familiar with the matter said. Unlike the American CEOs who traveled with President Donald Trump to Beijing in May, these Chinese executives did not fly on Xi’s aircraft nor form part of his formal entourage. Their attendance at the state dinner honoring Xi remained uncertain as diplomatic negotiations continued.
The final decision on whether Chinese business leaders would be invited to the state dinner and related events appeared to be linked to ongoing discussions between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The two officials met twice in recent days, most recently at the World Bank in Washington, seeking to resolve outstanding issues ahead of the summit. During the latest meeting, the sides agreed to extend the “Busan arrangement”—a trade pact first negotiated during Xi and Trump’s talks in South Korea—by two months, through January 10.
This extension has reportedly kept the option open for some Chinese business executives to participate in planned gatherings, although their role may be largely symbolic. One source indicated that the small delegation was unlikely to exert significant influence and suggested some executives might use the occasion to express concerns over U.S. investment restrictions. It was also noted that the question of securing seats for Chinese CEOs at state events was a relatively low policy priority for the U.S., which remained focused on negotiating new investment frameworks.
For Beijing, however, the optics of including Chinese corporate leaders at the state dinner carry considerable weight, as it would serve to balance the strong presence of U.S. technology executives and underscore the intertwined nature of the world’s two largest economies. Potential attendees from China reportedly include senior figures from Alibaba, Xiaomi, CATL, and BYD, with electric vehicle companies particularly eager to explore investment opportunities in the United States. Some American executives with substantial China business interests were expected to meet privately with their Chinese counterparts if official participation was limited.
Security concerns reportedly led several top Chinese artificial intelligence company leaders to forgo the summit altogether. The White House banquet venue can accommodate up to 100 guests, with approximately 30 seats allotted to the Chinese delegation. Should Chinese attendance fall short, additional U.S. business leaders would fill the space from a pool of highly sought-after invitations.
Confirmed American attendees include Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. These executives were also part of the U.S. delegation during Trump’s visit to Beijing in May. That trip, while generating little in the way of major corporate deals, facilitated informal meetings between U.S. and Chinese business figures.
Efforts to replicate this model of reciprocal business engagement for Xi’s visit faced setbacks amid unresolved disagreements on investment arrangements, particularly concerning the Board of Investment. Sources noted longstanding challenges involving communication gaps and differing interpretations of reciprocity. China expected a level of business representation comparable to that seen in Trump’s delegation but found the U.S. position focused primarily on senior government officials. Additional logistical difficulties and the absence of formally scheduled meetings for the Chinese executives further complicated their participation.
As Xi’s visit progresses, the role of Chinese business leaders remains a subject of negotiation, reflecting broader complexities in U.S.-China economic relations amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.