Huawei Technologies Co. founder, Ren Zhengfei, brushed off the impact of United States export restrictions on China’s tech sector in a front-page article in the Communist Party’s People’s Daily on Tuesday.

In the article, he dismissed the impact of US export restrictions, injecting confidence in China’s ability to navigate Washington’s trade barriers.

In a rare interview, Zhengfei, a prominent figure in Chinese business, asserted that domestic firms could counter U.S. efforts to restrict advanced semiconductor technology through innovative approaches like chip packaging and stacking.

He also expressed optimism about China’s prospects in artificial intelligence and software, citing the growing open-source ecosystem as a competitive advantage.

The article’s timing aligns with high-stakes U.S.-China trade talks, now in their second day, aimed at easing tensions over technology exports and rare earth elements.

U.S. Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, a key figure in the negotiations, has claimed that China struggles to produce sophisticated semiconductors at scale, crediting American export controls for slowing Beijing’s progress.

However, Zhengfei’s comments signal defiance, suggesting China is poised to overcome these hurdles.

The U.S. had imposed restrictions on chip design software for Chinese companies, though these could be revisited depending on the talks’ outcome.

Zhengfei’s remarks, prominently featured in China’s state media, underscore Huawei’s confidence in achieving technological breakthroughs despite ongoing geopolitical frictions.