Nvidia CEO Plans China Visit as Company Seeks to Reopen AI Chip Market

Beijing / Silicon Valley | Jan 20 (GeokHub) Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang is planning a trip to China later this month as the U.S. chipmaker looks to regain access to one of its most important artificial intelligence markets, according to people familiar with the matter.

The visit is expected to take place in late January, ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays in February. Huang is likely to attend company-related events and may also travel to Beijing, though the final itinerary remains subject to change.

It is not yet clear whether Huang will meet senior Chinese government officials during the trip. Nvidia has declined to comment publicly on the reported plans.

Market Reopening Effort Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

The planned visit comes shortly after the U.S. government approved sales of Nvidia’s H200 artificial intelligence chips to China under specific conditions. The decision was seen as a potential breakthrough for Nvidia, whose China business has been heavily constrained by U.S. export controls over the past two years.

However, momentum stalled when Chinese customs authorities subsequently indicated that the H200 chips were not permitted to enter the country, raising uncertainty over whether shipments can proceed. It remains unclear whether this reflects a formal ban, a temporary customs measure, or ongoing regulatory review.

The H200 is Nvidia’s second-most powerful AI chip and has become a focal point in broader U.S.–China technology tensions, with Washington seeking to limit Beijing’s access to advanced computing power while U.S. firms push to preserve global market share.

High Stakes for Nvidia

China has historically been one of Nvidia’s largest overseas markets for data centre and AI-related products. Any reopening would be strategically significant as global demand for AI infrastructure continues to surge.

Huang has repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining engagement with international markets, even as geopolitical pressures reshape global technology supply chains.