Among the Chinese companies invited were several that have landed on American government blacklists for allegations that their activities contribute to the surveillance of Chinese ethnic minorities -- limiting their ability to do business with American firms. These included SenseTime -- an artificial intelligence firm specializing in facial recognition -- and BGI Group, a genomics company. The U.S. Department of Defense also classified a unit of BGI Group last year as one of the "Chinese military companies operating in the United States," even though BGI says its technology was developed for civilian purposes. Both firms deny the allegations behind their blacklisting, and at the forum, they spoke warmly of their business relationships with the Saudi government, which for BGI Group included setting up laboratories in the kingdom during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite official claims to the contrary, many Saudis can't help but frame their growing ties with China in contrast to the waning influence of the United States in the kingdom.