Huawei’s Founder Tells Xi Jinping China’s Chip and OS Concerns Are Easing

Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei told Chinese President Xi Jinping that China’s concerns over its lack of domestic chips and operating systems have eased, according to Chinese state media.

The People’s Daily reported that Ren, along with other top business leaders, spoke at a private sector meeting with Xi. Ren stated that worries over China’s “lack of core and soul”—a reference to semiconductors and operating systems—had diminished, expressing confidence in China’s rapid rise in technology.

Huawei has played a key role in advancing China’s tech self-sufficiency, overcoming U.S. sanctions to develop advanced semiconductors and an independent operating system. This aligns with Xi’s push for domestic innovation to reduce reliance on foreign technology.

At the same meeting, BYD’s Wang Chuanfu highlighted China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry as a success story, while Xiaomi’s Lei Jun voiced confidence in overcoming international challenges under Xi’s leadership.

Other speakers included executives from Will Semiconductor, humanoid robot maker Unitree, and feed giant New Hope Group. The meeting also saw attendance from Alibaba’s Jack Ma and DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng, though they did not publicly speak.

This rare discussion among China’s top tech leaders underscores the nation’s commitment to technological self-reliance, particularly in semiconductors, AI, and EVs, as the country navigates ongoing global tensions.