June 16, 2023
2 mins read

Xi meets Gates, reiterates hopes on American people

Xi praised Gates and his foundation for their long-term commitment to facilitating global poverty reduction…reports Asian Lite News

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in Beijing on Friday, the State-run media Global Times reported.

“You’re the first American friend I have met in Beijing this year,” Xi told Gates according to a report in the Chinese State media.
“I often say that the foundation of China-US relations lies in people-to-people ties. We have always placed our hopes on the American people, and hope that peoples of our two countries will maintain their friendship,” Xi said according to Global Times.

According to a report in the Chinese news outlet, Xi praised Gates and his foundation for their long-term commitment to facilitating global poverty reduction, health, development as well as public welfare and charity work. President Xi also told Gates that China is willing to work with him and his foundation to continue strengthening cooperation in relevant fields, and provide support and help to other developing countries, the Global Times reported.

Gates said that he is visiting China for the first time since 2019. Gates is the latest high-profile business titan to visit the country in recent months, Fox Business reported.

The Microsoft co-founder on Wednesday tweeted: “I’ve just landed in Beijing for the first time since 2019, where I’m excited to visit with partners who have been working on global health and development challenges with @gatesfoundation for more than 15 years.”

The billionaire philanthropist had last met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015, and in 2020 Xi had written a letter thanking Gates and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for pledging some USD 5 million to the country in its fight against COVID as per Fox Business.

On Thursday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it will provide USD 50 million over the next five years to help Chinese efforts to battle disease.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a renewed collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Government and Tsinghua University to support the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) “in its efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world’s poorest,” according to release by the foundation.

Meanwhile, as per Fox Business, China has been rolling out the red carpet for US CEOs in recent months.

Gates has retired from leading Microsoft and appears to be overseas to focus on the work of the global charitable organization he founded with his ex-wife.

Other high-profile visits to China this year included those by Tesla’s Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is expected to visit China soon.

During Musk’s three-day visit to China the Tesla chief checked in on the electric vehicle giant’s operations and met with China’s foreign minister.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon also visited China earlier this month during a trip to Asia to meet with employees there and in neighbouring Taiwan, as per Fox Business. (ANI)

ALSO READ: China’s investors assess opportunities in Wardak province

Previous Story

‘Adipurush’ sparks row in Nepal

Next Story

India, Zimbabwe cement ties

Latest from -Top News

Afghanistan Offline: 72 Hours of Chaos

Afghanistan restores internet after three-day blackout; humanitarian aid, trade, and banking resume slowly, while UN warns repeated disruptions threaten recovery and livelihoods for millions of citizens. Internet and telecom services were partially

Over 1,000 lives lost in Pak floods

Pakistan’s floods kill over 1,000, hit agriculture and supply chains; economy shows resilience amid devastation, while Karachi experiences minor earthquake, raising fears in already-stricken areas. Pakistan continues to grapple with one of

Great Soybean Standoff

Trump’s planned meeting with Xi links soybean trade disputes to wider US-China tensions, as American military officials warn of growing threats from both Beijing and Pyongyang….reports Asian Lite News US President Donald

Khadi spirit spins on

From Gandhi’s visit in 1920 to Prime Minister Modi’s call for Swadeshi today, Mahoba’s weavers show how khadi continues to weave empowerment, pride and self-reliance….reports Asian Lite News In the dusty lanes

US urged to deepen defence ties with India

Heritage Foundation expert urges US to deepen defence cooperation with India, share naval intelligence, support drone industry, and avoid domestic criticism to counter China’s rising influence in Indo-Pacific….reports Asian Lite News A
Go toTop

Don't Miss

UK govt summons Chinese envoy over ‘interference’

The Hong Kong government said afterwards that one of the

Blinken, Wang Yi to discuss Taiwan

Ahead of the meeting with Secretary Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign