Chinese CEOs fly to US on own, await invites to Trump’s state din

A small group of Chinese CEOs with US visas has reached Washington independently of President Xi Jinping’s official entourage, while awaiting clarity on whether they will be invited to state visit events, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Executives travelled separately

The executives did not travel with Xi’s official party and were not aboard his aircraft, the sources said.

One source described the arrangement as a reflection of Beijing’s approach, saying, “Beijing’s security protocol is very different.”

The separate arrival stands in contrast to President Donald Trump’s May visit to China, when American CEOs arrived in Beijing alongside him, according to the source.

Invitations linked to US-China talks

Two sources said the final decision on whether the Chinese corporate chiefs would join state visit events was tied in part to discussions between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng.

The matter came up during their meeting on Wednesday, the sources said.

The situation underscores how corporate participation in high-level diplomatic events can depend on wider official talks, with the Chinese executives already in Washington but not confirmed for the state visit programme.

Source: South China Morning Post