Some of the world’s most prominent technology executives are planning to meet with China President Xi Jinping later this month in Seattle.
The New York Times reported today that the Chinese government is co-hosting a forum with Microsoft in Seattle on Sept. 23 with a guest list that includes execs from U.S. companies like Apple, Facebook, Uber, and Google, in addition to Chinese giants like Baidu and Alibaba. Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to attend, as is Lu Wei, known as “China’s Web Doorkeeper.”
The Times describes the meeting, which would come before Xi’s scheduled visit with President Obama in Washington D.C., as a move from China “to demonstrate its own sway over the American tech industry.” The forum comes at an interesting time, with tension between U.S. and Chinese governments over technology protectionism and other tech-related policies.
From the Times:
The meeting is rankling the Obama administration by veering off the script agreed to for Mr. Xi’s carefully stage-managed visit, two American officials said. There are also concerns the meeting could undercut President Obama’s stern line on China by portraying its leadership as constructively engaging American companies about doing business in China, even as the administration suggests American companies are hurt by anticompetitive Chinese practices.
We’ve reached out to Microsoft and will update this story when we hear back.
The Times reported that Xi is also expected to have dinner with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at his Medina estate before heading across the country to meet with Obama.
The Seattle Times reported on Xi’s potential stop in the Seattle region last week, noting that former Washington governors Gary Locke and Christine Gregoire created a plan last month for the visit.
Washington state is China’s largest exporter by dollars, the Times noted. The two sides have several other connections — more recently, Seattle’s University of Washington and China’s Tsinghua University announced a partnership to create a new technology graduate school in Bellevue, Wash., backed initially by $40 million from Microsoft. The school, dubbed the Global Innovation Exchange (GIX), will mark the first time that a Chinese research institution has established a physical location in the U.S.
The last time a Chinese president visited Washington was 2006, when Hu Jintao stopped in Seattle. Other Chinese leaders like Deng Xiaoping in 1970 and Jiang Zemin in 1993 have also visited the region.
Editor’s note: GeekWire reporter Taylor Soper will spend 10 days in China this November, covering the technology scene. Email him at taylor@geekwire.com with story ideas.
