Tim Cook: On November 15, 2023, President Xi Jinping of China hosted a dinner in San Francisco with the objective of persuading influential business figures, including Apple’s Tim Cook, that China contributes positively to the global stage. While this wasn’t the first meeting between Tim Cook and President Xi, it was noteworthy that Cook was among the select leaders from major tech companies invited to this exclusive gathering.
President Xi, as reported by Bloomberg, reassured guests by stating, “China does not seek spheres of influence and will not engage in a cold war or hot war with anyone.” The dinner unfolded in San Francisco after President Xi’s discussions with President Biden earlier in the day, with a guest list comprising around 21 individuals.
Representatives from technology firms such as Broadcom, Honeywell, and Qualcomm were included in the guest list, but notable absentees were Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta/Facebook, according to Bloomberg.
Security measures were evident at the dinner, with bodyguards positioned near President Xi to keep guests at a distance. Attendees were served a menu featuring seasonal vegetables in champagne vinaigrette, black Angus flat iron steak, and vanilla custard tart.
Despite the exclusion of discussions on China’s military actions against Taiwan, President Xi sought to provide reassurance to business leaders about the absence of impending conflicts. Apple has remained silent on the dinner, and Tim Cook has not addressed it on social media.
