Visited by Bill Gates, Xi Jinping Calls Meet Old Friends

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping has called Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates an old friend. Xi hopes they can work together in a way that will benefit both China and the United States. This is Xi’s first meeting with a foreign businessman in years.

At a meeting at Beijing’s Diaoyutai state guest house, Xi said he was very happy to meet Gates after three years. Xi said Gates was the first American friend he met this year.

“I have often said that the foundation of US-China relations lies in the people. I place my hopes in the American people. With the current global situation, we can carry out various activities that are beneficial to the two countries and our people, activities that are beneficial to humanity as a whole ,” Xi said.

Gates arrived in Beijing on Wednesday (14/6/2023). Gates said he was honored to have the opportunity to meet Xi.

“We always have great conversations and we will have a lot of important topics to discuss today, it’s great to be back,” Gates said.

In a blog post, Gates said he and Xi had discussed global health and development challenges such as health inequalities and climate change. A number of CEOs have visited China since the country opened its borders and relaxed Covid-19 restrictions. But most CEOs who come to China meet with ministers.

Gates stepped down from the Microsoft board in 2020 to focus on philanthropy in global health, education and climate change. Xi and Gates last met in 2015. At that time, they met on the sidelines of the Boao forum in Hainan Province.

In early 2020, Xi wrote to Gates thanking him and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for promises of aid to China, including $5 million worth of aid to fight Covid-19.

Xi also discussed the global rise of artificial intelligence (AI) with Gates. Xi said he welcomed US companies including Microsoft bringing AI technology to China.

A source said Xi and Gates also discussed Microsoft’s business developments in China. The mood of the foreign business community towards China has turned more cautious as Sino-US tensions escalate, and Xi increases China’s focus on national security.

During his meeting with Gates, Xi stated that China will not follow the old path of a powerful nation seeking hegemony. But will work with other countries to achieve common development. China often accuses the United States of pursuing hegemony.

As well as meeting with Xi, Gates gave a speech at the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute on the need to use technology to address global health challenges. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Beijing city government pledged $50 million in aid to increase the institute’s drug discovery capacity.

source : Reuters