China's Xi holds all-male meeting with US business leaders

Several U.S. business leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, when he made his case calling for closer ties between the two largest economies in the world.

The all-male meeting was held in Beijing and came as the U.S. and China have had a steady improvement in relations in the past several years. Xi expressed that the relationship is mutually beneficial, despite U.S. pushback on the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, The Associated Press reported.

Blackstone founder Stephen Schwarzman, Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon, Bloomberg Chair Mark Carney and FedEx President Rajesh Subramaniam were among the attendees, according to local media.

China’s economy has struggled to rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic, but Xi said the country is again contributing to global economic growth, according to the AP.

“Sino-U.S. relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the world. Whether China and the United States cooperate or confront each other has a bearing on the well-being of the two peoples and the future and destiny of mankind,” Xi said, per the AP, citing China’s official Xinhua News Agency.

The meeting follows a sit-down between Xi and President Biden last November in San Francisco and shows signs of the improved relations. Other members of the Biden administration have traveled or will soon visit China to host meetings with top leaders.

The AP noted that trade and tariffs between the two countries have drawn attention in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election in November, where Biden will likely face a rematch against former President Trump, who has spoke highly of Xi and other authoritarian leaders.  

“The respective successes of China and the United States create opportunities for each other,” Xi said, according to Xinhua. “As long as both sides regard the other as partners, respect each other, peacefully coexist and join together for win-win results, China-U.S. relations will improve.”