BEIJING: Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk held a meeting with China’s foreign minister Qin Gang in Beijing on Tuesday, marking his first visit to the country since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The meeting focused on fostering a favorable business environment for foreign enterprises in China, with Qin expressing the government’s commitment to creating a market-oriented, rule-of-law-based, and internationalized setting.
According to a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qin assured Musk of China’s dedication to facilitating a conducive business environment for foreign companies. The statement did not provide additional details regarding the discussions that took place during the meeting.
US Concern Over Elon Musk’s Visit
Musk’s visit comes after Tesla’s announcement in April of its plans to construct a new battery factory in Shanghai. This facility will be the company’s second factory in the city, following the establishment of its large-scale Gigafactory in 2019.
Elon Musk’s ties to China have drawn attention in the United States, prompting scrutiny from US President Joe Biden, who stated in November that the executive’s connections to foreign countries warranted examination. However, the Chinese foreign ministry’s statement did not mention any specific concerns raised during the meeting regarding Musk’s associations.
