Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to bring a large delegation of business leaders and chief executives during his upcoming visit to the United States, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The planned delegation would accompany Xi to Washington for a summit scheduled for September 24. The move could signal Beijing’s intention to highlight the importance of commercial ties between China and the United States despite continuing tensions over trade, investment and technology.
Xi’s decision to travel with a large group of corporate executives would mark an unusual approach. The Chinese leader has generally not included major business delegations on overseas visits in recent years, particularly after Beijing’s regulatory actions against several private-sector industries beginning in 2020.
Xi Jinping Plans Large CEO Delegation for Washington Visit
Sources said Xi Jinping is preparing to bring a substantial group of Chinese business leaders to Washington.
The delegation is expected to underline China’s support for stronger commercial engagement with the United States. It could also provide an opportunity for Chinese companies to engage with American businesses and policymakers.
The visit comes at a sensitive time for relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Washington and Beijing continue to disagree over tariffs, technology restrictions, investment and broader economic policies.
Despite these tensions, both countries have strong commercial interests in maintaining stable economic relations.
The presence of a large CEO delegation could therefore send a message that Beijing wants business engagement to remain an important part of the relationship.
Unusual Move for China’s President
Xi has rarely travelled abroad with a large group of corporate executives in recent years.
The reported plan is particularly notable because China’s relationship with its private sector has faced several changes since regulatory crackdowns began in sectors including technology, education and real estate.
Many Chinese business leaders have kept a lower public profile during this period.
The decision to include a major corporate delegation could therefore indicate a renewed effort to showcase China’s business community during an important diplomatic visit.
Experts quoted in reports have suggested that the participation of business leaders could play a useful role in strengthening commercial engagement.
The executives could help create direct channels between companies from the two countries and contribute to discussions surrounding future economic cooperation.
US-China Commercial Ties Remain Under Pressure
The planned visit comes as commercial relations between the United States and China remain complicated.
The United States has increased scrutiny of Chinese investments and imposed restrictions affecting Chinese companies in several strategic sectors.
Trade tensions have also remained a major issue.
Tariffs and restrictions have affected companies operating across both economies.
At the same time, China and the United States remain deeply connected through trade and global supply chains.
Businesses in both countries continue to have a strong interest in maintaining predictable commercial relations.
The reported CEO delegation could provide an opportunity to highlight areas where economic cooperation remains possible despite broader strategic disagreements.
Summit Expected to Focus on Trade Issues
Expectations for a major breakthrough at the Washington summit remain limited, according to the report.
However, officials from both countries are expected to work towards managing their economic relationship and identifying areas where agreements may be possible.
Discussions could include trade in non-sensitive goods and issues involving rare earth exports.
The two sides may also discuss reciprocal tariff reductions as part of broader efforts to stabilise commercial ties.
Reports suggest that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are expected to meet before the summit to work on possible deliverables.
These discussions could help define the agenda for the leaders’ meeting.
Business Leaders Could Play Important Role
The participation of Chinese CEOs could add an important business dimension to Xi’s US visit.
Government-level negotiations often focus on strategic and political issues.
Business leaders, however, can provide direct insight into the practical impact of tariffs, restrictions and changing regulations.
Chinese executives may also seek greater clarity about the future of access to the US market.
Similarly, American businesses could gain opportunities to understand Beijing’s economic priorities.
A larger business delegation could encourage direct discussions between companies from both countries.
Such engagement may not resolve the larger political disagreements, but it could help maintain communication during a period of heightened competition.
Xi’s Visit Comes Amid Technology Tensions
Technology remains one of the most difficult issues in US-China relations.
The United States has imposed restrictions involving advanced technologies and Chinese companies.
Washington has also raised concerns about national security and access to critical technologies.
China has criticised several US restrictions and has sought to strengthen its domestic technological capabilities.
These disagreements have affected the wider business relationship.
Companies operating in sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing face increasing uncertainty.
The Washington summit is unlikely to resolve all these issues.
However, continued dialogue could help both sides manage areas of disagreement and reduce uncertainty for businesses.
Rare Earths and Trade Could Feature in Discussions
The economic relationship between China and the United States also involves strategically important supply chains.
Rare earth materials remain an important area because they are used in advanced technologies and manufacturing.
Trade restrictions and export controls have increased concerns about supply-chain security.
The summit could provide an opportunity for both governments to discuss trade arrangements involving non-sensitive goods and other economic issues.
According to the Reuters report, rare earth exports and reciprocal tariff reductions could form part of the discussions surrounding the upcoming meeting.
Business Diplomacy Gains New Importance
The planned CEO delegation highlights the growing role of business diplomacy in relations between major economies.
Political tensions can create uncertainty for companies.
Direct engagement between business leaders can sometimes help governments understand the economic consequences of policy decisions.
The delegation could also demonstrate Beijing’s interest in supporting Chinese companies seeking international opportunities.
For the United States, the visit could create additional opportunities to communicate directly with influential Chinese business leaders.
The approach may help both countries identify areas of commercial cooperation even when strategic disagreements continue.
However, the success of such engagement will depend on the broader political environment.
Trade restrictions and national security concerns are likely to remain significant challenges.
Comparison With Previous Business Delegations
The inclusion of business executives would not be entirely unprecedented in high-level US-China diplomacy.
Major state visits have previously included corporate leaders and business-focused events.
Xi travelled with prominent Chinese business executives during his 2015 visit to the United States.
Business delegations have also accompanied American leaders during major visits to China.
Reports noted that US President Donald Trump travelled to China earlier in 2026 with a delegation of American executives, demonstrating the continued importance both governments place on commercial engagement during high-level diplomacy.
Summit Could Signal Push for Stable Commercial Relations
Xi Jinping’s reported decision to bring a large CEO delegation to Washington could signal a renewed emphasis on economic engagement.
China and the United States continue to compete in several strategic areas.
However, the scale of trade between the two countries means that both sides also have reasons to prevent economic tensions from escalating further.
The delegation could help reinforce the message that commercial ties remain important.
Business leaders may also help identify practical opportunities for cooperation.
The upcoming summit could therefore combine high-level diplomacy with direct business engagement.
All Eyes on Xi’s Washington Visit
Xi Jinping’s planned US visit will attract significant international attention.
The reported participation of a large group of Chinese CEOs adds another dimension to the summit.
The move could demonstrate Beijing’s willingness to place business and commercial ties at the centre of its engagement with Washington.
The visit will take place against the backdrop of continuing disagreements over trade, technology and strategic competition.
Major breakthroughs may remain difficult.
However, dialogue between the leaders and their economic teams could help manage tensions and identify areas for limited cooperation.
The presence of Chinese business executives could further strengthen communication between the corporate sectors of the two countries.
As preparations for the September 24 summit continue, attention will remain on the final composition of Xi’s delegation and the agreements, if any, that emerge from the high-level meeting.
For now, the planned Xi Jinping CEO delegation US visit signals that Beijing sees commercial engagement as an important part of efforts to maintain stability in one of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationships.