Huawei Founder Reassures Xi Jinping on Chip, OS Concerns
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with private sector entrepreneurs, including Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei. State media reports that Ren expressed optimism about China's progress in addressing concerns over the lack of domestically-produced chips and operating systems.
In a meeting with six founders, Xi heard from Ren, Wang Chuanfu of BYD, and Lei Jun of Xiaomi. Ren assured Xi that the "lack of core and soul," referring to semiconductors and operating systems, is no longer an immediate concern.
Huawei has played a significant role in Xi's drive for greater self-sufficiency, developing advanced chips and an operating system despite U.S. sanctions. Wang highlighted the success of China's electric vehicle industry. Lei expressed confidence in China's ability to overcome international challenges under Xi's leadership.
Other attendees included Liang Wenfeng of DeepSeek and Jack Ma of Alibaba. The People's Daily published an article summarizing the founders' remarks, marking the first time details of their discussions with Xi have been made public.
The meeting highlights the importance Xi places on private sector innovation and self-reliance. Huawei's progress in chip and OS development is seen as a key step in that direction.