Lu Wei, called China's "Internet czar" by the New York Times, received a mixed response during his U.S. visit last week.
On the East Coast, Washington officials expressed opposition to the continuing impact of Chinese hacking activity, as well as the Chinese government's authoritarian management of the Internet.
Then, on the West Coast, Lu was welcomed with warmth. Chinese sellers were declared vital by eBay chief executive John Donahoe on network television, while Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg informed Lu that both he and his staff continue to learn about "socialism with Chinese characteristics."
Silicon Valley has good reason to develop close ties with the giant Asian economy that China represents, following research results that expect the Chinese market to account for 43-percent growth in the technology sector in 2015.
Meanwhile, 16 percent of Apple's $37.4 billion sales in 2014 came from Chinese consumers. A face-to-face meeting with Tim Cook at Cupertino was also part of Lu's travel schedule.
Although Facebook access is not permitted within China's borders, Zuckerberg is keen to overturn the status of his social networking platform. The Facebook ban is part of an assertive Internet policy that includes the censorship of online content and the tracking of users within China.
Numerous photo opportunities were seized by Lu's entourage, and Chinese social media is filled with responses of praise for the trip's outreach focus.
While Facebook has not spoken with the media about Lu's visit to its Californian headquarters, the U.S. tour may become historic for the Silicon Valley developments that arise from it, even though Washington's approach was more solemn.