From Tesla To Goldman, US CEOs Hear Xi’s Pitch For Business Opportunities In China

Last Updated:May 14, 2026, 14:03 IST

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with US executives accompanying Trump to Beijing, turning what was formally a diplomatic visit into a closely watched trade engagement

Xi Jinping on Thursday reassured American businesses that China remains open to foreign investment, telling a group of top US corporate leaders that Beijing’s doors would “open wider" even as trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies remain unresolved.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with US executives accompanying President Donald Trump to Beijing, turning what was formally a diplomatic visit into a closely watched corporate and trade engagement.

The gathering at the Great Hall of the People brought together some of the most influential figures in American business, underscoring the central role of commerce in the ongoing US-China talks.

Chinese state media said Xi acknowledged the role American companies have played in China’s economic rise and argued that deeper, more balanced cooperation would benefit both sides. He called for “reciprocal cooperation" and said US firms would find broader opportunities in the Chinese market.

Bid To Calm Trade Tensions

The meetings come as Washington and Beijing attempt to prevent a renewed escalation of their trade conflict. Both economies are still feeling the impact of last year’s tariff war, when duties on some goods crossed 100 per cent, disrupting supply chains, fuelling inflation in the US and weighing on Chinese exports.

A temporary truce agreed during a leaders’ meeting in South Korea last October is now up for review.

For Trump, a fresh deal with China could offer relief to financial markets and US exporters. For Xi, stability is a priority as China grapples with weak domestic demand, stress in the property sector and slowing external trade.

Officials on both sides have described the current 36-hour engagement as an effort to keep negotiations on track and avoid a return to confrontation.

CEOs With Specific Demands

The US delegation includes executives from technology, finance, manufacturing and commodities firms, among them Tesla, Apple, Nvidia, BlackRock, Boeing, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Mastercard and Visa.

Their presence is widely seen as strategic, with each company seeking regulatory clarity or expanded access in China.

According to people familiar with the discussions, US and Chinese officials are also exploring a framework under which tariffs could be eased on roughly $30 billion worth of goods on each side, without compromising national security concerns.

What Washington Is Seeking

Trump’s public message has focused on opening China’s markets further to US firms, boosting Chinese purchases of American goods such as agricultural products, liquefied natural gas and aircraft, and reducing tariffs. US officials are also pressing Beijing to avoid using supply chains, particularly rare earths and critical minerals, as a strategic lever.

China’s recent tightening of rare-earth exports has highlighted its ability to exert pressure on sensitive US industries, adding complexity to the talks. At the same time, Washington’s attention has been partly diverted by the conflict involving Iran, where China’s role as a major buyer of Iranian oil gives it added geopolitical weight.

Beyond trade, wider strategic issues hover over the talks. The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies, has sharpened concerns in both capitals, with China heavily dependent on Gulf oil and the US eager to avoid another global energy shock. While Iran and Taiwan are not formally on the agenda, officials acknowledge they are shaping the urgency and tone of the discussions.

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