The Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.3% to 3,880 on Thursday, while the Shenzhen Component Index edged down 0.1% to 13,439, giving back gains from the previous session as investors turned cautious ahead of high-level US–China talks this weekend. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for final preparatory discussions before the September 24 summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Although the upcoming meetings are expected to help stabilize relations between the world’s two largest economies, investors remained wary amid persistent uncertainty over tariffs, sanctions, and broader geopolitical risks, including tensions involving Taiwan and the Middle East.
On the corporate front, BYD slipped 0.6% following reports that Chinese authorities may include the automaker in Xi Jinping’s business delegation for his summit with Trump. Energy shares were also among the leading decliners, with PetroChina down 1.9% and CNOOC losing 2.9%.