Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
This meeting comes as China recently lifted strict Covid controls that had effectively isolated the country from the rest of the world for nearly three years.
According to the state broadcaster CCTV, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with Gates and discuss various matters in Beijing. This visit marks Gates’ first trip to China in four years, signifying the importance of the meeting.
In conjunction with his visit, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Thursday that it will contribute $50 million to support China’s efforts in combating malaria and tuberculosis.
This financial aid will be directed towards the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI), a Beijing-based organization established by Gates, the Beijing municipal government, and Tsinghua University.
The Gates Foundation emphasized that the $50 million will be utilized to enhance health outcomes on a global scale, particularly by developing life-saving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. These diseases disproportionately affect the world’s most impoverished regions.
During his visit, Gates delivered a speech at the GHDDI, commending China for its achievements in eradicating malaria and reducing poverty. He expressed optimism about China’s potential to play a larger role in addressing ongoing challenges, particularly those faced by African nations.
Gates is not the only prominent Western business leader to visit China following the relaxation of Covid restrictions. Last month, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon made a visit to China, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk also embarked on his first trip to the country in over three years.
Musk engaged in discussions with senior officials in Beijing and visited Tesla’s Gigafactory located on the outskirts of Shanghai, where he held a late-night meeting with staff.
Earlier this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook also traveled to Beijing, emphasizing the mutually beneficial relationship between his company and China.
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