Ray Dalio: Trump-Xi meeting to focus on trade, capital flows

In this article .SPX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio speaks in Shanghai on April 8, 2026. CNBC SHANGHAI/BEIJING — Hedge fund magnate Ray Dalio is optimistic that a highly anticipated meeting next month of the U.S. and Chinese presidents can go a long way toward soothing bilateral tensions. "The next meeting will have a particular emphasis on trade, but also capital flows," the founder of Bridgewater Associates told CNBC's Eunice Yoon on Wednesday in Shanghai. Dalio said he expected the two leaders to demonstrate “empathy" and work through challenges together. "Investors should be encouraged by these things," he said, noting it "carries through" to investments and markets. While the three major U.S. averages have rebounded from losses during trade tensions about a year ago, the S&P 500 is still down more than 3% so far this year , due in part to concerns stemming from the Iran war. U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing on May 14 and 15 to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping . Trump was originally set to travel in late March, but delayed the plans due to the Iran war. watch now VIDEO 4:58 04:58 Jet fuel supply a concern for Asian carriers, ceasefire offers short-term relief Squawk Box Asia Lack of contact between the U.S. and China is "the biggest source" of bilateral tensions, said Dalio, wearing a pin bearing both the U.S. and Chinese flags. He was in Shanghai for a ceremony marking the end of a 10-day ocean exploration voyage that was organized by his non-profit OceanX and U.S. and Chinese groups to support bilateral relations. Dalio founded OceanX in 2016 with his son Mark to promote exploration and stewardship of ocean resources. The U.S. consul general in Shanghai and a vice mayor of the Chinese city also attended the Shanghai event. Ten students from each of the two countries participated in the trip, which started in Hong Kong. The "Chinese-American relationships and the oceans are the two mo...