Chinese CEOs fly to US on own, await invites to Trump’s state dinner for Xi Jinping

A small group of Chinese CEOs holding US visas has arrived in Washington after travelling separately from President Xi Jinping’s official entourage, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

But with the clock ticking and the business optics of the Chinese leader’s White House visit hanging on the final twists of diplomatic negotiations, the executives are still waiting to find out whether they will secure a seat at Thursday’s state dinner for Xi.

“Beijing’s security protocol is very different,” one of the sources said, noting that the executives did not fly with Xi’s official party or aboard his aircraft, unlike the American CEOs who arrived in Beijing alongside President Donald Trump in May.

Two sources said the final decision on whether the Chinese corporate chiefs would join state visit events was tied in part to talks between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, and the matter came up during their meeting on Wednesday.