China’s Prime Minister Tian (R) greets Pfizer CEO Albert Brula from a delegation led by Sen. Steve Daines before the meeting held in Fujian, held at the People’s Conference in Beijing on March 23, 2025.
ng han guan | AFP | Getty Images
US Republican Sen. Steve Daines met with a group of seven American executives in Beijing on Sunday with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang.
Daines accompanied me Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, Cargill CEO Brian Sikes; Boeing According to a report from Foreign Media Pool, there are global senior vice president Brendan Nelson, and other executives from Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
Daines’ trip will mark the first time a US politician has visited China since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Beijing is calling for a high level of dialogue with the new administration in the hopes of reaching a deal to avoid further tariff pressure from Washington.
A solid supporter of Trump and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Daines was deeply involved in negotiations on US-China trade during Trump’s first term, and made multiple trips to China as a senator.
He lived in Guangzhou and Hong Kong in the 1990s. Proctor & Gamblehe mentioned in his opening speech.
“Collectively, these seven companies have over 275 years of experience doing business in China,” Daines said they introduced the American CEO, according to Poole’s transcript.
“Each of these companies have been here for decades, and are growing their businesses and making a big contribution to their business growth and success.”
Beijing is trying to attract foreign investment to offset US tariff pressure and slowing the domestic economy.
US executives have been given an audience to Li Qiang, who has not met separately from other foreign CEOs of the China Development Forum for the second year in a row.
Annual closure meetings with the Prime Minister were traditionally considered the highlight of a summit by foreign CEOs.
China-US relations are under new tensions after Trump slapped additional tariffs on Chinese goods and accused Beijing of not enough to halt fentanyl’s flow to the US.
In early April, Trump is expected to unlock tariffs in all countries that potentially tax imports, including China. The US review of whether China has fulfilled its promises made in a “Phase 1” trade deal from Trump’s first administration is expected to close on April 1.
“We’re at a critical time for US-China relations,” Lee told Daines at the meeting, emphasizing the need to choose a dialogue around a dialogue.
“Both of us need to choose dialogue over cooperation that is beneficial to both sides over conflict, zero-sum competition,” Lee said.
Other Chinese officials who attended the meeting between Daines and US executives included Minister Wang Wentic, Deputy Minister Ma Chaocus, and Chinese state planner Director Zheng Shanjie.
Annie Vu, the newly arrived suspect from the US Embassy, also attended the meeting.
Daines met China’s deputy prime minister in Beijing on Saturday. He discussed the need for China to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors and “expressed hope that a further higher level of consultation between the US and China will take place in the near future,” according to a post published on social media platform X.
