Some US CEOs Decline Shenzhen APEC Events Amid Schedule Uncertainty, Sources Say

China keeps extending the Shenzhen Apec deadline. Why are US execs so unenthused?

Some American CEOs have decided not to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and related business events in Shenzhen next month, according to people familiar with the matter.

The executives’ hesitation is linked to limited information about the summit schedule and the meetings planned around it.

People familiar with the matter said some senior American executives were lukewarm about attending the gathering and related business events.

They cited few expected breakthroughs and limited opportunities for meaningful engagement as additional reasons for their reluctance.

Beijing has invited multiple US business leaders, particularly those who joined President Donald Trump’s May trip to China and later attended the White House state dinner for Xi Jinping in September, the sources said.

However, some CEOs have decided not to attend because concrete details about the schedule and planned meetings remain limited.

The uncertainty over the programme matters because the summit’s related business events were expected to provide opportunities for engagement between American executives and participants in Shenzhen.

With few expected breakthroughs and limited scheduling information, some invited executives appear unconvinced that attending would offer enough meaningful engagement.

The accounts come from people familiar with the matter and sources cited in connection with the invitations and planned events.

Source: South China Morning Post