Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting with global executives on Friday, March 28, 2025, to discuss investment opportunities in China amidst escalating trade tensions with the U.S.
Xi emphasized the importance of multinational companies in upholding global order and highlighted the need for collaboration with China. He assured foreign companies that China was a safe and stable environment for investment, stating that investing in China meant investing in the future.
In line with recent policy announcements, Xi pledged to provide fair opportunities for foreign businesses to participate in government procurement bids. The meeting was attended by over 40 individuals, predominantly foreign executives and business officials, including prominent figures such as Ray Dalio from Bridgewater Associates, Bill Winters from Standard Chartered, and Steve Schwarzman from Blackstone Group.
The trade tensions between the U.S. and China have been escalating, with President Donald Trump imposing tariffs on Chinese imports and threatening additional duties on major trading partners. China has been expanding its trade relations with Southeast Asian countries and the European Union, but the U.S. remains its largest trading partner on a bilateral basis.
Xi stressed the importance of resolving U.S.-China trade disputes through negotiations to maintain the stability of global supply chains. He dismissed the idea of decoupling as a solution and emphasized the need for cooperation.
The meeting was also attended by senior Chinese officials, including Politburo standing committee member Cai Qi, top diplomat Wang Yi, and Vice Premier He Lifeng, along with heads of China’s economic planning agency, finance ministry, and commerce ministry. Foreign executives shared their perspectives before Xi delivered closing remarks, providing personalized feedback based on his past interactions with the individuals or their companies.
In an effort to alleviate trade pressures, China has been engaging with executives of major U.S. companies at state-sponsored events. The meeting with Xi followed a conference attended by Apple CEO Tim Cook, although Tesla CEO Elon Musk was notably absent.
Additionally, U.S. Senator Steve Daines visited Beijing to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, marking the first visit by a U.S. politician to China since Trump’s re-election. Daines expressed optimism about a potential meeting between Xi and Trump in the future.
The discussions between Chinese and U.S. officials underscored the importance of cooperation and the mutual benefits of trade relations. Executives from leading companies such as FedEx, Pfizer, Cargill, Qualcomm, and Boeing were present at the meeting, signaling a commitment to fostering positive bilateral relations between the two countries.
