Chinese President Xi Jinping received a standing ovation on Wednesday night during his address at a dinner with business executives at an Indo-Pacific leaders’ summit in California. In his speech, Xi expressed openness to cooperation with the U.S., stating, “We are in an era of challenges and changes. It is also an era of hope. The world needs China and the United States to work together for a better future,” as per an English language translation of his remarks by The Associated Press.
????????XI JINPING:
“We are in an era of challenges and changes. It is also an era of hope. The world needs China and the United States to work together for a better future.
We, the largest developing country and the largest developed country, must handle our relations well.
In a… pic.twitter.com/pnp9Zc198M
— Sony Thang (@nxt888) November 16, 2023
Xi emphasized that China has no intention to challenge or unseat the United States and urged against interference in China’s internal affairs. The attendees at the $2,000-per-plate dinner included prominent figures such as Apple CEO Tim Cook, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, and leaders from Pfizer, FedEx, Boeing, and KKR. Tesla owner Elon Musk attended the VIP reception but did not stay for the dinner, according to CNBC.
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chairman of the House Select Committee on China, criticized American companies for attending the dinner, particularly considering alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. He called it unconscionable and demanded a full list of attendees, along with information on profit distribution.
The banquet followed Xi’s lengthy meeting with President Biden at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. Biden, after the meeting, emphasized the need for clear communication to prevent competition from escalating into conflict. He referred to Xi as a “dictator” for the second time this year, prompting a strong response from China’s Foreign Ministry, which stated that the comments were extremely wrong and irresponsible political manipulation.
