Chinese President Xi meets with US business leaders in an all-male group

Several U.S. business leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, who advocated close ties between the world's two largest economies.

The men-only meeting was held in Beijing and comes as relations between the United States and China have steadily improved over the past few years. President Xi said the relationship is mutually beneficial despite U.S. opposition to the Chinese Communist Party's influence, the Associated Press reported.

According to local media, Blackstone founder Stephen Schwartzman, Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon, Bloomberg Chairman Mark Carney, and FedEx President Rajesh Subramaniam were among those in attendance.

China's economy is struggling to recover after the coronavirus pandemic, but President Xi said the country is once again contributing to global economic growth, the news agency said.

“China-US relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the world.'' Citing China's state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi said, “Whether China and the United States cooperate or conflict depends on the people of both countries.'' It is related to the well-being of the world and the future and destiny of humanity.”

The talks follow a sit-in between Mr Xi and President Biden in San Francisco last November, and there are signs that relations are improving. Other members of the Biden administration have also visited or are planning to visit China soon to host meetings with leaders.

The Associated Press reports that trade and tariffs between the two countries are in the spotlight in the run-up to the US presidential election in November, with Biden set to face a rematch with former President Trump, who has praised Xi and other authoritarian leaders. He pointed out that there is a high possibility of facing

“The respective successes of China and the United States create opportunities for each other,” Xi said, according to Xinhua news agency. “Sino-US relations will improve as long as both sides view the other as a partner, respect each other, coexist peacefully, and work together towards win-win outcomes.”