Chinese AI Company Leaders Apparently Missing from Xi Jinping's U.S. Delegation

[Financial News] As Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to travel to the United States on the 23rd local time, speculation has emerged that the heads of major Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) companies have been left off his delegation list.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, "Representatives of AI companies such as DeepSeek and Moonshot AI do not appear to be included on the list." It also relayed experts' analysis that "This may be a measure by the Chinese government to protect key AI talent."
Zhiwu Chen, a chair professor of finance at the University of Hong Kong, said, "If they accompany Xi at this stage, they could find themselves in a difficult situation," adding, "This is intended to protect them."
An analyst at another think tank who requested anonymity also agreed that leading researchers and businesspeople in cutting-edge fields such as AI are likely to be exposed to risks amid the current geopolitical situation.
Some analysts suggest that the differing positions of the two governments may have been reflected in the composition of the delegation, as calls to slow the pace of AI development have gained traction.
Alicia García Herrero, chief Asia-Pacific economist at investment bank Natixis, pointed out, "Opposition to and political pressure over the rapid development of AI technology are growing in the United States." She added, "China knows that the United States needs to slow down, but China does not. That is why President Xi does not want to bring AI figures with him."
Against this backdrop, the U.S. daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported that "Xi Jinping may travel without any businesspeople at all." According to the report, sources said, "Chinese businesspeople were initially expected to attend the White House state dinner alongside American businesspeople, but whether Chinese businesspeople will attend has yet to be finalized."
[email protected] Hong Chae-wan Reporter