Xi Jinping Plans Large Business Delegation for Rare US Visit, Sources Say

Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to bring a large group of corporate executives with him on an upcoming visit to Washington, according to people familiar with the plans. This marks a notable departure from recent practice, as Xi has rarely traveled abroad with business leaders since regulatory crackdowns on major industries began several years ago, which left many executives keeping a lower public profile.

The move appears designed to signal China’s openness to strengthening investment and trade ties with the United States, potentially giving American officials a political win ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. This comes despite continued US restrictions on Chinese companies, including tariffs on electric vehicles, import bans on certain technology products, and national security-related trade limitations affecting several major Chinese firms.

A Different Strategy Than Previous Visits

The last time Xi traveled with a similarly large business delegation was roughly a decade ago, a trip that resulted in a major commercial aircraft deal and meetings with prominent American technology executives. Interestingly, the current dynamic appears reversed compared to earlier this year, when the US brought a large group of American executives to China, though that delegation was reportedly organized quickly and played a more passive role during the visit.

Summit Expected to Remain Largely Symbolic

Despite the high-profile nature of the planned delegation, people briefed on the discussions say expectations for major breakthroughs remain limited. Ongoing disagreements persist between the two countries over trade classifications and tariff negotiations, with officials from both sides expected to hold further talks in the coming weeks to determine what, if any, concrete announcements might come from the summit.