Global CEOs, including Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) Tim Cook, reportedly met Chinese trade negotiator He Lifeng at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing amid the continuous trade tension between the world’s two biggest economies.
He Lifeng, who is also the vice premier of China, reiterated that China is willing to deepen ties with all nations, reported state-media Xinhua News Agency, and he hoped that the board members will actively support the country’s economic development.
Global CEOs are part of an advisory board of Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management, which gathers every year, and Tim Cook is the chair of the committee.
Apple’s CEO Cook on Wednesday pledged to boost investments in China during his meeting with Li Lecheng, Minister of Industry and Information Technology, according to a Bloomberg report. He also outlined a donation to Tsinghua University, Xi’s alma matter.
The meeting would come at a time when US-China bilateral relations are tense, as the US has called for a response with other nations to China’s announcement on rare earths last week.
Chinese government has justified its moves as defensive actions after the US announced new restrictive measures targeting China.
At a CNBC forum in Washington, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday highlighted that President Donald Trump is still expected to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month in South Korea.