Several prominent American executives have expressed ambivalence about attending the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO summit in Shenzhen next month, citing limited information on the event’s agenda and a perceived lack of meaningful engagement opportunities. Sources familiar with the matter say this lukewarm response comes despite concerted invitations from Beijing to business leaders who previously accompanied President Donald Trump during his visit to China in May and who attended the White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping in September.
The APEC CEO summit, scheduled for November 17–18, will precede the leaders’ summit on November 18–19, where representatives from 21 economies, including the United States, Russia, Japan, and South Korea, will convene to discuss regional economic cooperation and trade. The meetings in Shenzhen are expected to include a third face-to-face encounter between Trump and Xi within seven months, alongside potential bilateral and multilateral discussions involving other global leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Despite an invitation list that includes top-tier U.S. executives—among them Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon—sources indicate that some American CEOs have chosen to withdraw. These executives reportedly cited the absence of detailed schedules and confirmed meetings, prompting them to prioritize other commitments. Two sources, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to discuss the issue publicly, noted that Beijing has extended the registration deadline for the summit multiple times, reflecting what appears to be subdued interest from the U.S. side.
A source close to the matter suggested that if China were earnest about securing robust participation from American business leaders, it would release definitive agendas and coordinate itineraries that facilitate substantive interaction. Another insider highlighted a disconnect between the U.S. and Chinese positions on summit planning, noting that limited opportunities for meaningful engagement at a multilateral forum like APEC make attendance optional for some executives.
This dynamic follows a related diplomatic incident in Washington last month, when a group of Chinese business leaders—who were present in the U.S. capital—were excluded from the White House guest list for President Xi’s state dinner. The exclusion was reportedly caused by poor communication between Beijing and Washington, differing interpretations of reciprocity, and ambiguous U.S. policy toward Chinese investments.
Some observers suggest Beijing’s emphasis on inviting those American executives who attended both Trump’s China trip and the White House dinner may overlook the prevailing skepticism in Washington regarding Chinese investments, as well as the limited prospects for tangible outcomes from the APEC forum. Meanwhile, Xi is expected to continue high-level diplomatic engagements, with plans to travel to Miami in December to participate in the Group of 20 summit hosted by the United States.