China's premier pitches Musk, Cook and Huang on investment as Beijing restricts their tech

BEIJING, CHINA: Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday, May 14, urged some of America’s most influential business leaders to deepen their commercial presence in China and help rebuild trust between the world’s two largest economies.

During a high-profile meeting in Beijing, Li addressed a delegation of leading US executives that included Elon Musk, Tim Cook and Jensen Huang, along with more than a dozen other American corporate leaders who traveled to China during President Donald Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Li used the gathering to deliver a strong message that Beijing still views American companies as essential partners despite years of tensions over trade, technology and national security.

Call for deeper economic cooperation

According to a readout released by the state-run Xinhua News Agency, Li Qiang encouraged American businesses to “further strengthen the ties of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the US” and continue acting as “bridges for communication and dialogue” between the two countries.

The premier also urged US corporate leaders to help foster a more balanced American perception of China’s development and economic ambitions.

“He hoped they would help various sectors in the US view China’s development in a more objective and rational manner and promote mutual trust and friendship,” the Xinhua statement said.

The remarks reflected Beijing’s broader effort to stabilize relations with Washington after years of economic disputes, tariff battles and restrictions on advanced technologies.

CEOs gather after Trump-Xi summit

The meeting took place shortly after talks between Xi and Trump concluded in Beijing, where the two leaders discussed trade, investment, technology cooperation and regional security issues.

Li said the discussions between the two presidents had provided “strategic guidance” for the future direction of bilateral ties and signaled the importance both governments attach to maintaining stable economic relations.

“Looking toward the future, China and the US are fully capable of and should continue to be friends and partners, achieving mutual success and shared prosperity,” Li said during the meeting.

The premier stressed that long-term stability in China-US relations would require not only government-level engagement but also active cooperation between businesses, investors and broader sectors of society.

Business ties remain critical despite tensions

The presence of executives from major American technology and manufacturing companies highlighted the continued importance of the Chinese market for US corporations despite rising geopolitical friction.

Apple, Tesla and Nvidia all maintain substantial business interests in China, which remains one of the world’s largest consumer and manufacturing markets.

At the same time, companies have faced growing uncertainty due to export controls, supply-chain concerns and strategic rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

Li’s outreach to American executives appeared designed to reassure global investors that China remains open to international business and interested in preserving commercial cooperation even as political differences persist between the two powers.