Xi’s CEO-free dinner delegation underscores strained US-China business ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a state dinner in Washington on Thursday without Chinese business leaders, while over 30 American CEOs were present, highlighting strains in US-China trade relations. Analysts say the absence of Chinese executives carries diplomatic costs and underscores limited progress on trade and investment, despite Beijing's senior economic officials attending as key decision-makers. The dinner followed Xi's reciprocal visit four months after Trump traveled to Beijing, where Chinese executives had dined with US counterparts. Both sides extended a trade truce to Jan 10, but no major economic breakthroughs emerged.