Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and a well-known philanthropist, had a significant meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing today. This visit follows a recent pledge from the Gates Foundation of $50M (RM230 million) to assist China’s mission to combat disease.
Gates, one of the wealthiest individuals globally, has joined a growing number of Western business leaders who have traveled to China following the country’s three-year-long strict Covid-19 controls, which essentially isolated it from the world.
China’s state broadcaster, CCTV, revealed the meeting, marking the first visit of Gates to the Asian powerhouse in four years and signifying a rare dialogue between a foreign business tycoon and the Chinese leader.
The meeting precedes a planned trip to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken this Sunday and follows the Gates Foundation’s announcement yesterday of a $50M donation to support Chinese efforts to eliminate malaria and tuberculosis. The grant will aid in the renewal of collaboration with the Beijing-based Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI), a joint venture between Gates, the Beijing municipal government, and Tsinghua University.
During a speech at GHDDI on Thursday, Gates praised China’s achievements in eradicating malaria and reducing poverty. He further expressed optimism for China’s potential to address current global challenges, particularly those faced by African countries.
Several American business leaders, such as JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, have recently visited China, showcasing their optimism about the vast market and trade ties with the country.
This news is based on an article from malaymail.com.