President Xi Jinping met with American business leaders in Beijing on Wednesday as China seeks to woo more foreign investment into the country.

Xinhua News Agency said he met with representatives from the US business, strategic and academic communities.

Xi said he hopes the two countries would step up exchanges and build consensus on various issues.

"Differences will always exist, because people are different, and even people from the same family are different, too," he said.

"But we should seek common ground and build more consensus. This is true between nations and family members."

The president added that "the history of China-US relations is a history of friendly exchanges between the two peoples".

"People from all walks of life in both countries should have more exchanges and more cooperation."

Sources said some 20 firms were invited to take part in the meeting that lasted about 90 minutes at the Great Hall of the People.

Among those in attendance were Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of private equity giant Blackstone, and Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm.

The gathering was organised by the National Committee on US-China Relations, the US-China Business Council and the Asia Society think tank.

It came a few days after the China Development Forum in Beijing, which was attended by Apple CEO Tim Cook and other top executives. (Agencies)