BYD, Xiaomi and Innolight executives tipped for Xi Jinping's US delegation

Executives from BYD, Xiaomi and optical-component maker Zhongji Innolight are likely to travel with Chinese President Xi Jinping on his state visit to Washington next week. 

The lineup suggests that the visit could result in new Chinese investments in the U.S. 

Why is China’s President going to Washington? 

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to begin a visit to the U.S. on September 24 for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. 

The Chinese government has not officially confirmed the schedule, but Trump has said repeatedly that Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, will arrive on the 24th. 

Chinese officials have created a likely guest list for the visit based on the American CEO group that flew to Beijing with Trump in May, which included Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang. 

Beijing’s version includes individuals from companies covering technology, finance, electric vehicles and aerospace, like executives from BYD, Xiaomi and Zhongji Innolight. The Bank of China may also join the delegation. 

The selection criteria depend on whether a firm is in active talks with the U.S. on possible deals, its loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party, and whether its presence might pull attention away from Xi’s agenda.

Why is BYD a controversial addition? 

The inclusion of BYD founder Wang Chuanfu would be slightly controversial due to the heavy tariffs imposed on Chinese electric vehicles. At an over 100% tax rate, Chinese carmakers are effectively locked out of the American passenger market. 

Additionally, in June, BYD was added to the U.S. Department of Defense’s list of “Chinese military companies” over alleged ties to the People’s Liberation Army.

Trump said in a Fox News interview about Chinese EVs that if the EV makers were to come to the U.S. and build their cars there, then they could be allowed back into the market. BYD already runs an electric bus plant in California, and further investment commitments could set up more local production. 

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin has called a potential deal a “strategic mistake” on X, warning it would threaten the 1.2 million jobs tied to her state’s auto industry. 

Who else is expected to be at the summit? 

The summit is also pulling in American AI leaders. Trump officials are considering hosting a meeting with technology and AI executives on the sidelines of Xi’s visit, though nothing has been scheduled and Xi is not currently expected to take part. 

OpenAI’s Chris Lehane confirmed that Sam Altman will be in attendance, and Nvidia’s Huang is also expected at the state dinner Trump will host. 

Notably, AI has become a central point of friction. Cryptopolitan recently reported that U.S. researchers have asked companies to slow the pace of development. Trump has dismissed this concern as a “hoax.” 

Beijing, for its part, considers talks about slowing down an attempt to stall its own progress. 

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