Xi Jinping's Government Hopes US Firms Can 'Play A Strong Role' In China's Economy As Top Executives Visit Beijing

The Chinese government expressed its desire for U.S. firms to play a significant role in its economy after top U.S. executives engaged in a meeting with Chinese officials.

What Happened: The delegation, led by FedEx Corporation FDX CEO Raj Subramaniam, met with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The visit aimed to gain first-hand insight following the conclusion of China’s third plenum, South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday.

The Chinese officials expressed their hope that the U.S.-China Business Council could encourage American firms to seize opportunities in China, leading to mutual cooperation and development. Wang stated that the delegation’s visit was timely as they could witness China’s comprehensive reforms.

Subramaniam said that the U.S. business sector would continue to explore the Chinese market with confidence and hoped to contribute more to the bilateral trade and investment relationship.

See Also: Elon Musk Posts AI Video Featuring Xi Jinping With Controversial Winnie The Pooh Reference: Will it Harm Tesla’s Business In China?

Prior to their visit to Beijing, the U.S. business representatives met with Guangzhou’s mayor, Sun Zhiyang. The city is considered a prime destination for American firms looking to invest in China.

Several companies, including Dun & Bradstreet Holdings DNB, General Electric GE, and Kraft Heinz KHC, participated in the meeting, according to the Guangzhou government. Apple Inc AAPL COO Jeff Williams and Micron Technology Inc MU President Sanjay Mehrotra also reportedly joined the delegation.

Why It Matters: This meeting comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. The U.S.’s attempts to “contain” China have been counterproductive, leading to increased global tensions. The Biden administration ramped up blacklisting of Chinese firms, surpassing the number of entities blacklisted during Donald Trump‘s tenure. Moreover, the White House is actively trying to restrict China from accessing critical AI software, drawing sharp rebuke from Beijing.

Earlier, the U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, accused Beijing of sabotaging diplomatic relations between the two nations.

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari