Bill Hornbuckle, chief executive and president of MGM Resorts International, and other senior MGM China executives recently met with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng, alongside Xu Qifang, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council. Hornbuckle detailed the encounter in a LinkedIn post last Friday.
The talks, held during Hornbuckle’s trip to Macau and Beijing, centered on “bilateral tourism” and broader cooperation between China and international operators, suggesting fresh momentum for Macau’s tourism-driven economy. “It was a privilege to engage in a thoughtful and constructive conversation on business and tourism collaboration, cultural exchange, and the important role tourism can play as a catalyst for broader economic activity,” Hornbuckle wrote.
Hornbuckle was joined by MGM China chairperson and executive director Pansy Ho, Kenneth Feng, chief executive of MGM China Holdings, and Fred Zhou, president of China hospitality for MGM Resorts.
Zhou also leads Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality, a joint venture building hotels across mainland China.
“Joined by our partner, Ms. Pansy Ho, and my colleagues Fred Zhou and Kenneth Feng, we also shared MGM Resorts International’s long-term vision for Macau and mainland China, reaffirming our commitment to delivering high-quality experiences that are both grounded in local culture and reflect the evolving expectations of today’s global traveler,” Hornbuckle stated.
Discussions addressed “the continued importance of supporting bilateral tourism, including expanding travel beyond major cities and leveraging major cultural, entertainment, and sporting events to drive engagement.”
“It was a fitting and meaningful conclusion to an important visit,” Hornbuckle said.
The engagement coincides with heightened U.S.-China diplomatic activity.
President Donald Trump plans a Beijing summit with President Xi Jinping on May 14–15, rescheduled from late March due to the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran. Beijing recently hosted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia, a high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) led by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, as well as Vietnam’s Party Chief Tô Lâm.
Analysts note these visits, though pre-planned, carry added weight amid geopolitical volatility, with China positioning itself as a stable partner.
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