Credit: CFP
AsianFin -- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang returned to China for the third time this year, reinforcing both his company’s strategic focus on the Chinese market and his growing celebrity status there.
During his recent visit to Beijing for the China International Supply Chain Expo, Huang was mobbed by fans, posed for countless selfies, signed leather jackets — his trademark attire — and walked the streets with ease more typical of a pop icon than the head of the world’s most valuable tech company.
Huang’s public appearances, rare for a top U.S. executive in China, came shortly after meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump. During the trip, Huang announced that Nvidia would resume sales of its H20 AI chips in China — a significant move following a U.S. export ban in April over national security concerns.
The visit underscored the delicate position Nvidia occupies in the broader U.S.-China tech rivalry. With a $17 billion business in China, the company must walk a fine line between maintaining market access and complying with tightening U.S. export controls. Analysts say Huang is adeptly managing the tension, but note the company remains exposed to shifting political winds.
“Jensen Huang’s visit was a clear signal of Nvidia’s commitment to China,” said Lian Jye Su, chief analyst at Omdia. “But that commitment must be tempered by ongoing scrutiny from U.S. policymakers.”
In meetings with senior Chinese officials including Vice Premier He Lifeng and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, Huang emphasized Nvidia’s partnership with Chinese firms. He praised AI models developed by Deepseek, Alibaba, and Tencent as “world class,” and highlighted surging demand for Nvidia’s H20 chips in China, particularly after Deepseek’s model launches in January.
Tilly Zhang, an analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, said Nvidia’s future success in China will depend on its ability to adapt. “The company must read the tides well and act at the right moment. Fortunately, they have a CEO who’s proven himself skilled at doing just that.”
Still, some believe Nvidia’s dominance in China could erode over time. Charlie Chai of 86Research noted that Beijing is actively backing domestic alternatives to Nvidia, offering subsidies and support to companies that could eventually replace its high-end chips in key sectors.
Huang’s trip wasn’t limited to high-level meetings. In scenes rarely seen for a global CEO, he was filmed strolling through Beijing, chatting with passersby, drink in hand, and obliging crowds asking for autographs. In a show of cultural resonance, Huang swapped his trademark leather jacket for a black traditional Chinese tunic during his speech at the Expo, calling himself “Chinese” and describing China’s technology infrastructure and supply chain as “vast.”
He even offered rare praise for archrival Huawei, which has emerged as a key competitor in the AI chip race. “Anyone who underestimates Huawei — or China’s manufacturing capability more broadly — is being naive,” Huang told reporters. “Huawei is a formidable company.”
When asked how U.S. officials would react to his highly visible presence in Beijing, Huang said, “I told President Trump and his cabinet that I was coming to China. He told me, ‘Have a great trip.’”
The comment reflects Huang’s careful diplomacy as he steers Nvidia through a critical period for both the company and global AI development. As China and the U.S. continue to battle for technological supremacy, Huang’s ability to engage both sides — and be welcomed on the streets of Beijing like a rock star — may prove just as important as the next breakthrough chip.
