Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has reassured America’s richest person, Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk, that Beijing continues to welcome foreign businesses even as its relations with the US deteriorate.
China will “unswervingly promote high-level opening up” and foster a “market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Qin as telling Musk during a meeting on Tuesday in Beijing. “China’s development is an opportunity for the world.”
Tesla is among the leading overseas manufacturers operating in China, relying on the country as its largest production hub and the second-biggest market for its electric vehicles. Musk, who has a net worth estimated by Forbes at nearly $200 billion, was expected to meet with other Chinese officials and visit Tesla’s plant in Shanghai after wrapping up his talks with Qin. He followed in a long line of US business leaders – such as Apple CEO Tim Cook and Pfizer’s Albert Bourla – who have returned to China for visits after being shut out for nearly three years during the Covid-19 pandemic.