Huawei Technologies founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said he appreciates the “openness and inclusivity” of the US tech community, and yet the Chinese company “had no choice” but to build its own tools because of US sanctions.

Ren, 80, said Huawei needs to learn from the receptive culture of the US, which has allowed the country to become highly advanced in science and technology, according to a transcript of his recent conversation with students and academics. It was published on Thursday on the website of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), a prestigious global coding competition for university students.

“The US has set an example for all countries and companies worldwide on being open,” he said at the Huawei-sponsored event. “If [a country] is closed off, it will fall behind.”

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Shenzhen-based Huawei has been barred from buying hardware, software and services from American hi-tech suppliers since May 2019, when it was added to Washington’s trade blacklist. Tightened trade restrictions imposed by the US government in 2020 further limited Huawei’s access to advanced semiconductors developed or produced using US technology, regardless of where they were manufactured.

People line up outside a Huawei store in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=People line up outside a Huawei store in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE>

Since then, Huawei has transformed itself into a major force supporting China’s self-sufficiency drive, in areas ranging from artificial-intelligence (AI) chips to operating systems.

The company last year launched a series of surprise smartphones containing advanced processors that were fully made in China. It has also removed support for Android-based apps on its self-developed mobile operating system HarmonyOS. It is currently developing home-grown alternatives to US chip designer Nvidia’s much-coveted AI processors.

Ren said the AI trend is “unstoppable”. “Just like how the invention of trains, textile machinery and ships in Britain created a turning point in history, AI applications are creating the turning point of our times,” he said.

Despite the company’s recent breakthroughs, Huawei is “still struggling”, according to Ren. “Until today, we cannot say for certain that we can survive,” he said, while underscoring Huawei’s lack of access to better chips and technologies that are available to its competitors.

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