BEIJING— President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday with a high-profile delegation of American business leaders, including Tesla chief Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, in a visit that underscored the growing importance of China to the global aviation and technology industries.
The presidential delegation traveled aboard Air Force One after departing Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., with a refueling stop in Anchorage (ANC), Alaska, where Huang reportedly joined the flight.
Trump later confirmed that executives from Boeing, Apple, Qualcomm, Micron, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and GE Aerospace were also part of the business-focused visit to China.
Many CEO Joins Trump on Trip to China
Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated during the journey that he and Huang were onboard Air Force One while flying across the Pacific Ocean. Musk also posted online using Starlink internet connectivity during the flight.
Jensen Huang, whose company Nvidia remains central to the artificial intelligence chip industry, has actively sought expanded approval for semiconductor sales into China.
The trip comes at a time when U.S.-China trade tensions continue to affect technology exports and aviation manufacturing.
Trump identified several additional executives accompanying the delegation, including Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon.
The presence of major aerospace and technology executives highlighted Washington’s broader effort to strengthen commercial ties with Beijing despite ongoing trade and security disputes.
Boeing’s China Focus
For Boeing, the China visit carries particular importance as the American aircraft manufacturer attempts to strengthen its position in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
Chinese airlines are expected to require thousands of new aircraft over the next two decades as passenger traffic expands across Asia.
Boeing continues to compete aggressively against European rival Airbus, which recently secured a major aircraft order from China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines valued at more than $21 billion.
Ortberg’s participation in the delegation also follows Boeing’s recent push for international sales agreements.
Earlier this year, Trump and Ortberg traveled to Qatar, where Qatar Airways announced plans to purchase up to 210 Boeing aircraft in a deal the White House valued at nearly $96 billion, Business Insider flagged.
Industry analysts believe Boeing is seeking to rebuild momentum in China after years of geopolitical tension, delivery pauses, and certification disputes involving the 737 MAX aircraft.
Tech Trade Impact
The trip also arrives during a period of rising competition between American and Chinese technology firms.
Tesla recently lost its position as the world’s top battery electric vehicle seller to Chinese automaker BYD, reflecting China’s rapid expansion in the EV sector.
NVIDIA and other semiconductor firms remain heavily dependent on access to the Chinese market despite U.S. export restrictions on advanced AI chips. Micron has also faced regulatory challenges in China after some of its products were restricted from critical infrastructure projects over national security concerns.
In a statement posted before arrival, Trump said he intended to encourage Chinese President Xi Jinping to further open China’s economy to American businesses.
The visit is expected to include discussions involving aviation, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, energy, and international trade cooperation.
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