Beijing’s seating arrangement reflects strengthening ties with Samsung amid US trade disputes
Lee joined top global executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse, Mercedes-Benz Chairman Ola Källenius, and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, for discussions on cooperation with Chinese officials. Established by China’s State Council in 2000, the CDF is a platform for policymakers and business leaders to discuss economic policy.
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong speaks with attendees while standing in the front row for a group photo at the China Development Forum (CDF) in Beijing on March 23, 2025./Reuters-Yonhap |
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Attendees pose for a group photo at the China Development Forum (CDF) in Beijing on March 23, 2025. From left, highlighted in yellow, are Apple CEO Tim Cook, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong./Reuters-Yonhap |
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In a group photo with about 80 global executives, Lee stood in the front row, third from the right, next to Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Apple’s Cook. This contrasted with his placement at the 2023 forum, where he stood in the third row. Two years ago, during a meeting with foreign guests, Lee was seated behind key Chinese officials and executives such as Cook, who were given front-row, circular seating arrangements.
Lee’s prominent placement this year coincides with China’s efforts to secure semiconductor supply chains amid its trade dispute with the U.S. Analysts suggest that Beijing’s decision to place Lee in a more visible position reflects its growing emphasis on ties with Samsung, which operates semiconductor plants in China.
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong (circled in yellow) poses for a group photo in the third row at the China Development Forum (CDF) in 2023./CCTV-Yonhap |
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Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong sits in the second row during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in 2023./CCTV-Yonhap |
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Lee has taken a more proactive role during his visit. On March 22, he toured Xiaomi’s automobile plant in Beijing and met with CEO Lei Jun to discuss potential collaboration in electric vehicle production. On March 24, he visited the headquarters of BYD, the world’s largest EV maker, in Shenzhen. Industry sources speculate that his talks with BYD Founder Wang Chuanfu focused on partnerships in automotive components, a sector Samsung has identified as a key future growth area.
[Lee Ka-young]
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