(Yicai) May 15 -- Chinese business chiefs rubbed shoulders with American corporate heavyweights at a state dinner held yesterday in Beijing to mark US President Donald Trump's visit, providing a valuable opportunity for both sides to strengthen ties and explore potential deals.

Chinese entrepreneurs from key sectors such as technology, manufacturing and aerospace attended the event. They included Yang Yuanqing, chairman and chief executive officer of personal computer giant Lenovo Group, Lei Jun, founder and chairman of tech behemoth Xiaomi, Liang Rubo, CEO of TikTok operator ByteDance, Jia Shaoqian, chairman of electronics manufacturer Hisense Group, Zhou Qunfei, chairwoman of display glass maker Lens Technology, Lu Weiding, chairman of car parts manufacturer Wanxiang Group, and Cao Hui, chairman of auto glass maker Fuyao Glass Industry Group, according to footage from China Central Television and on-site identification by Yicai.

Fuyao Glass is one of the largest automotive glass suppliers globally, and its founder, Cao Dewang, has attracted significant attention from Western media in recent years due to his investments in manufacturing in the United States. Changsha-based Lens is a major supplier of display glass for brands such as Apple and Samsung.

In the aviation sector, Liu Tiexiang, chairman of China National Aviation Holding, and He Dongfeng, chairman of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, attended the dinner. Their tablemates included Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp.

The last time Boeing secured a major aircraft order from China was during President Trump's first visit to China in 2017. Shanghai-based COMAC and Boeing previously established a joint Boeing Completion and Delivery Center in Zhoushan, which handles interior installation, painting and delivery of 737 MAX aircraft.

The American delegation included over a dozen business leaders, such as Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of chipmaker Nvidia, Tim Cook, CEO of tech giant Apple, Elon Musk, CEO of electric car startup Tesla, and Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of semiconductor firm Qualcomm, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Huang was seated at the same table as Chinese executives Jia, Zhou, Lu and Cao Hui. Santa Clara-based Nvidia is the world’s largest supplier of artificial intelligence chips, and its exports to China have long been restricted by the US government, making Huang's visit very closely watched by the market.

Several US business leaders told Xinhua that they remain optimistic about China’s market prospects. "China has a vibrant economy and will continue to play a role in the supply chain," Amon said.

Cook emphasized the importance of win-win cooperation while Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said that with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan taking shape, the country’s economy is likely to see steady growth.

Editor: Kim Taylor