AMD CEO Lisa Su Meets China’s He Lifeng to Discuss Chip Cooperation
TNW
May 19, 2026 – 12:25 pm
TL;DR
AMD CEO Lisa Su met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing on May 18, 2026, pledging to expand AMD’s operations and investment in China. This meeting highlights the challenging position of US chipmakers as export controls reshape global semiconductor trade.
AMD’s Lisa Su meets China’s vice premier in Beijing as chip diplomacy intensifies
AMD CEO Lisa Su sat down with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, signifying US chipmakers’ efforts to maintain their market position in China amid tightening export controls.
He Lifeng, a senior official for economic and trade affairs, welcomed multinationals like AMD to "seize China’s development opportunities" and deepen cooperation. He referenced the recent summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump, highlighting positive outcomes.
Lisa Su expressed AMD’s willingness to expand its operations in China and increase investment, while maintaining a balanced approach to avoid provoking Washington.
The export-controls backdrop
The meeting occurred shortly after Trump’s state visit to China, which yielded trade concessions but left semiconductor export controls largely intact. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that chip export controls were not a major topic during the talks, indicating no immediate relaxation of restrictions.
For AMD, these controls have led to the development of modified chips tailored for the Chinese market, a necessary workaround. The company’s MI308 accelerator can be sold without special approval, while the MI325X awaits a case-by-case review process.
The US approach remains inconsistent. While roughly 10 Chinese companies have been cleared to buy Nvidia’s H200 processors, actual shipments are yet to occur. Congress is pushing the MATCH Act to tighten controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Beijing has criticized such legislation ahead of the summit, emphasizing its impact on global technology cooperation.