Tim Cook hails DeepSeek as China Development Forum kicks off

The 2025 China Development Forum, scheduled from March 23 to 24, has drawn hundreds of global business leaders to Beijing to discuss various topics under the theme "Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy."

During the opening ceremony on Sunday, Apple CEO Tim Cook hailed the user experience of DeepSeek when asked if he has tried China's AI-powered chatbot.

Ahead of the forum, Cook also shared highlights of his Beijing trip on Weibo on Saturday, which included a hike in Jingshan Park with Chinese entrepreneur Yang Tianzhen and enjoying a musical performance by singer-songwriter Henry Lau.

In addition to Cook, foreign executives such as Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam, Cargill CEO Brian Sikes and Boeing Global Senior Vice President Brendan Nelson, AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser also attended the forum.

Sources indicated that some foreign business leaders are expected to meet President Xi Jinping on Friday (Mar 28).

Meanwhile, Hong Kong representatives included Richard Li Tzar-kai, founder of the Pacific Century Group; Sonia Cheng Chi-Man, chief executive officer of Rosewood Hotel Group; and Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen, chairman of the MTR Corporation.

As for Chinese business representatives, leaders such as Ant Group Eric Jing Xiandong, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo Yang Yuanqing and Guangzhou Xiaopeng Automotive Technology CEO He Xiaopeng also participated in the forum.