Chinese President Xi holds an exclusive men's meeting with US business leaders

Several American business leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, where he made his case for closer ties between the world's two largest economies.

The all-men meeting was held in Beijing and came as relations between the United States and China have steadily improved in the past few years. Xi expressed that the relationship is mutually beneficial, despite the United States' opposition to the influence of the Chinese Communist Party. The Associated Press reported.

Those in attendance included Blackstone founder Stephen Schwarzman, Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon, Bloomberg Chairman Mark Carney, and FedEx Chairman Rajesh Subramaniam. According to local media.

China's economy is struggling to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, but Xi said the country is once again contributing to global economic growth, according to the Associated Press.

“China-US relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the world. Whether China and the United States cooperate or confront each other has an impact on the well-being of the two peoples and the future and destiny of humanity,” Xi said, quoted by China's official Xinhua News Agency.

The meeting follows a meeting between Xi and President Biden last November in San Francisco and shows signs of improving relations. Other members of the Biden administration have traveled to China or will visit soon to host meetings with senior leaders.

The Associated Press noted that trade and tariffs between the two countries have drawn attention in the run-up to the US presidential election in November, with Biden likely to face a rematch against former President Trump, who praised Xi and other authoritarian leaders.

“The successes achieved by China and the United States create opportunities for each other,” Xi said, according to Xinhua. “As long as both sides regard each other as partners, respect each other, coexist peacefully and join hands to achieve win-win results, China-US relations will improve.”