Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong returns through Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center in Seoul, South Korea, 13 March 2026, after wrapping up a business trip to Europe. Lee arrived at the center following his overseas visit. Photo by YONHAP /EPA
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss expanding investment in China during a major business forum in Beijing, industry sources said Sunday.
Lee is attending the China Development Forum, a two-day event that began Sunday, where global executives and Chinese officials are discussing economic policy and investment opportunities.
Sources said the meeting is likely to focus on additional investment to expand production at Samsung’s semiconductor plant in Xi’an, a key facility for the company’s memory chip business.
The forum, hosted by a Chinese government-affiliated think tank, has drawn leaders from about 80 global companies, including executives from Apple, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz.
Chinese officials, including Xi, have urged multinational companies to increase investment in the country as Beijing seeks to boost growth under its next five-year economic plan.
Samsung has reported strong global performance, driven by demand for artificial intelligence technologies, but its business in China has faced pressure from local competitors.
Revenue at its Xi’an semiconductor plant fell to 39.2 billion yuan last year, or about 8.6 trillion won (about $6.4 billion), down from a year earlier.
Industry observers said Lee may pursue more aggressive investment in China to recover declining sales and strengthen partnerships, even as geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global supply chains.
Lee is also expected to meet key Chinese partners following the forum, continuing a pattern of high-level engagement with major technology and automotive companies in the country.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260322010006485
