Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has described artificial intelligence models from Chinese firms such as Deepseek, Alibaba, and Tencent as “world-class,” highlighting the growing global impact of China’s AI industry. Speaking on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of a supply chain exhibition in Beijing, Huang emphasised that AI is “revolutionising” supply chains across industries.
Nvidia Resumes H20 AI Chip Sales to China
The remarks come just one day after Nvidia announced it would resume sales of its popular H20 AI chips in China. Huang revealed that U.S. government licenses for the chip sales are expected “very fast,” as part of broader export control discussions between Washington and Beijing. “The most recent change was related to the constructive and positive discussions between the U.S. government and the Chinese government as it relates to export control discussions,” Huang said.
The H20 chip is Nvidia’s most powerful AI product legally available in China and has been a key focus of U.S. export restrictions aimed at limiting Chinese access to advanced technologies.
Chinese Market: A Strategic Priority for Nvidia
During an interview with state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday, Huang described the Chinese market as “massive, dynamic, and highly innovative,” stressing the importance of American companies establishing a strong presence in China.
This marks Huang’s third visit to China in 2025, occurring just days after he meets with U.S. President Donald Trump. “There are many order books already in,” Huang added, confirming high demand for the H20 chips among Chinese firms.
U.S.–China Negotiations on Rare Earths and AI Technology
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed on Tuesday that the planned resumption of Nvidia’s H20 chip sales is linked to ongoing U.S.–China negotiations on rare earth exports. These discussions are part of broader efforts to balance national security concerns with trade and business interests.
ByteDance and Tencent Reportedly Submitting Chip Orders
Sources familiar with the matter said that major Chinese tech firms, including ByteDance and Tencent, are in the process of submitting applications for Nvidia’s H20 chips. However, ByteDance has denied submitting applications at this time, while Tencent has not issued a statement.
All chip orders from Chinese companies must first be sent to the U.S. government for approval, as part of compliance with export regulations.
Nvidia Developing New RTX Pro GPU for Chinese Clients
In addition to the H20 chip, Nvidia has announced the development of a new GPU called the RTX Pro specifically for the Chinese market. The RTX Pro GPU is designed to comply fully with U.S. export restrictions while catering to the unique needs of Chinese clients.
Key Takeaways
- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised Chinese AI companies as “world-class” at a Beijing expo.
- Nvidia confirmed it will resume sales of its H20 AI chips in China, pending U.S. government license approvals.
- Huang emphasised the strategic importance of the Chinese market for American firms.
- Nvidia is developing a new RTX Pro GPU tailored for Chinese clients to comply with export regulations.
