Innovation Dialog with Zhang Jianmin, Chinese Consul General in San Francisco｜After Trump-Xi Talks: What’s Next for U.S.-China Tech?

Following the recent meeting between the leaders of China and the United States, technology cooperation has once again become a major topic in Silicon Valley. In an exclusive interview, Zhang Jianmin, Chinese Consul General in San Francisco, said that despite growing discussions around “decoupling,” China and the U.S. still share strong complementary strengths in areas such as artificial intelligence, green energy, biotechnology, and the digital economy.

“Decoupling does not serve the interests of either side,” Zhang said, emphasizing that meaningful cooperation can create new industrial opportunities and strengthen global innovation.

He noted that Silicon Valley continues to lead in innovation and research, while China offers a complete industrial supply chain, fast-growing application scenarios, and a massive market. Zhang also pointed out that many U.S. companies and local communities remain interested in maintaining long-term cooperation with China.

During the interview, Zhang highlighted Hangzhou’s rapid rise as one of China’s leading innovation hubs and expressed hope for deeper partnerships between Hangzhou and California cities, particularly in the Bay Area. He said stronger city-to-city exchanges in technology, entrepreneurship, and youth collaboration could play an important role in building long-term trust between the two countries.

Zhang also mentioned the upcoming 8th China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference in San Francisco, saying local exchanges will remain a key foundation for future U.S.-China relations.