Chinese President Xi Jinping is kicking off his first state visit to the U.S. with a stopover in Seattle to huddle with the biggest names in tech and aerospace.
The visit, which begins on Tuesday, provides a rare opportunity for Xi to exchange views with American executives, many of whom are eager to expand their businesses in China. But there will be tension too: tech CEOs, in particular, are wary of Beijing’s heavy-handed approach to Internet regulation and censorship.
Hacking and the Internet will be hot topics throughout the six-day U.S. tour. When Xi arrives in Washington, D.C., President Obama is expected to press the Chinese leader to halt cyberattacks on U.S. government agencies and corporations.
Beijing says it has nothing to do with the attacks, but Obama’s patience is clearly wearing thin. “We can choose to make this an area of competition — which I guarantee you we’ll win if we have to,” Obama said earlier this month.
