BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping told his “American friend” Bill Gates Friday that China has “always placed its hopes” in the American people, according to the state media.
State-run People’s Daily said, “I have met my first American friend in Beijing this year, and it’s you,” Xi told Gates in Beijing.
“We have always hoped fomor lasting friendship between the peoples of the two nations and placed our hopes in the American people,” Xi said further.
He told Gates, “I am pleased to see you. We haven’t met in over three years. You are our long-time friend and have contributed greatly to China’s development work.”
Gates — one of the richest men globally — is among a number of Western business leaders to visit China since the country did away with strict Covid measures that largely closed it off from the world for almost three years. The visit is Gates’ first to China in four years.
During his discussion with Xi, Gates “Talked his thoughts on the current situation and future of cooperation with China,” according to official media.
The newspaper quoted him as saying, “China has made huge achievements attracting worldwide attention in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and alleviating poverty, setting a good example for the world.”
