During his visit to Beijing, Elon Musk, the enigmatic billionaire and one of the world's wealthiest individuals, commended China's "vitality and promise." This trip marks his first visit to China in over three years and has involved meetings with various government officials, during which he expressed his intention to expand his business ventures in the country.
On Wednesday, Musk met with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and lauded "the vitality and potential of China's development," as stated in a readout from the Ministry. The meeting's readout also highlighted Musk's full confidence in the Chinese market and his willingness to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. Moreover, he emphasized that China-US relations should not be viewed as a zero-sum game and expressed gratitude to China for the support and assistance provided to Tesla's Shanghai factory during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
Musk, who has significant business interests in China, informed Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday that his company is eager to expand its presence in the country, according to a readout from the foreign ministry. However, neither Musk nor Tesla have issued any statements or responded to requests for comment from AFP.
Chinese media reported that Tesla welcomed Musk's arrival in Beijing on Tuesday with an extravagant 16-course dinner, featuring delicacies such as seafood, New Zealand lamb, and traditional Beijing-style soybean paste noodles. Furthermore, on Wednesday, Musk met with Industry Minister Jin Zhuanglong to discuss the development of new energy vehicles and intelligent connected vehicles, as indicated in a readout from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Despite AFP's requests for additional information regarding Musk's itinerary, Tesla representatives remained unresponsive.
China holds the position of the world's largest electric vehicle market, and in April, Tesla announced plans to construct a second massive factory in Shanghai, following the establishment of its Gigafactory in 2019.
During his meeting with Foreign Minister Qin on Tuesday, Musk also expressed his opposition to an economic "decoupling" between China and the United States, according to statements from Beijing. He asserted that the interests of both nations are interdependent, likening them to conjoined twins inseparable from one another.
Elon Musk's extensive business ties with China have drawn scrutiny in Washington, with President Joe Biden remarking in November that the executive's foreign connections warranted examination. Musk has also stirred controversy by suggesting that Taiwan, an independent territory, should become part of China—a viewpoint welcomed by Chinese officials but strongly condemned by Taipei.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning emphasized on Tuesday that the country welcomes visits by international executives, aiming to foster better understanding of China and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.