BEIJING/WASHINGTON: Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to bring a large group of Chinese business executives to Washington for his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump, in an unusual move that could signal an effort to put investment and commercial ties at the centre of renewed engagement between the two countries.
Xi is expected to travel to Washington for a September 24 summit with Trump, according to two people familiar with preparations for the visit.
The proposed inclusion of a substantial corporate delegation is particularly notable because Xi rarely takes large groups of private-sector executives on overseas visits.
Relations between Beijing and major Chinese companies have also undergone significant changes since regulatory crackdowns beginning in 2020 targeted sectors including technology, property and private education.
At the same time, Chinese investment remains politically sensitive in Washington, where successive administrations have tightened restrictions on Chinese access to strategically important technologies and raised concerns over national security.
Bringing senior executives to the US could therefore provide opportunities for direct discussions with American companies at a time when the world’s two largest economies are attempting to stabilise their commercial relationship.
The summit is expected to address broader disagreements over trade, technology and investment as well as geopolitical disputes between Washington and Beijing.
The composition of Xi’s delegation is still being finalised, according to the reports, and plans could change before the September 24 meeting.