China's Xi meets Bill Gates, calls him 'an old friend'
BEIJING, June 16 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping called Bill Gates "an old friend" and said he hoped they could cooperate in a way that would benefit both China and the United States, in Xi's first meeting with a foreign entrepreneur in years.
In a meeting at Beijing's Diaoyutai state guest house, where China's leaders have traditionally received senior foreign visitors, Xi said he was very happy to see the Microsoft (MSFT.O) co-founder and philanthropist after three years, and that Gates was the first American friend he had met this year.
My hopes are with ‘the American people’, China’s Xi Jinping tells ‘old friend’ Bill Gates
- President Xi Jinping uses special diplomatic term ‘old friend’ for Bill Gates as he meets Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist in Beijing
- People should ‘communicate more to enhance understanding’, Xi says, in loaded message ahead of top US diplomat Antony Blinken’s visit to China
Hopes for a better US-China relationship lie with the American people, Chinese President Xi Jinping said as he met “old friend” Bill Gates in Beijing on Friday.
“I always believe that the foundation of China-US relations lies in the people. I place my hopes on the American people,” Xi told the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Gates was the first “American friend” he had met this year, Xi said, as he welcomed him to the Diaoyutai state guest house. He also called Gates “an old friend” – a special diplomatic term for foreign entities who contribute to China’s development, are concerned about Chinese interests and understand Chinese problems.
“Under the current global situation, we can carry out various activities that are beneficial to our two countries, to the people of our two countries, and to humanity as a whole,” Xi said, adding that he hoped for continued friendship between the peoples of China and the United States.
“The world is walking out of the Covid-19 pandemic. People should move and communicate more to enhance understanding,” he said.
The message from Xi came just two days ahead of a visit to Beijing by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as bilateral tensions continue to simmer.
The visit over Sunday and Monday is being viewed as a move to stabilise the fractious relationship. Blinken will be the first high-level official in the Biden administration to travel to China, four months after postponing a planned trip in a spat over a suspected Chinese “spy balloon” entering US airspace.
Xi’s remark was also the latest example of China’s efforts to convey its approach to US relations through talks with high-profile American business figures. . .
The meeting with Gates was also the first time Xi had met a foreign private entrepreneur or business leader in years, after having suspended all overseas travel during the pandemic.Gates, co-chairman of the The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a charity he started with his former wife, was a frequent traveller to China before the pandemic hit. He landed in Beijing on Wednesday for what was his first visit since 2019 – compared with 17 trips during the previous three decades or so.
Arriving close on the heels of Musk, Gates is the latest high-profile foreign business leader to visit China since its post-pandemic reopening earlier this year.
- Apple’s Tim Cook and JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon are also among the more than 40 top executives of multinational corporations to have visited so far, though only Gates had an audience with Xi.
In encouraging Gates to work with Beijing to promote activities to benefit all of humanity, Xi said China “is primarily focused on solving its own problems” and “will definitely not follow the old path” of pursuing hegemony once it becomes strong.
“China is willing to carry out extensive technological innovation cooperation with countries around the world, actively participate in and promote efforts to tackle global challenges such as climate change, combating pandemics and [protecting] public health,” Xi was quoted as saying by CCTV.
He also expressed China’s willingness to continue to strengthen cooperation with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and help other developing countries within its capabilities.
Xi Jinping welcomes ‘friend’ Bill Gates to China
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