On a business trip to China, US business magnate Elon Musk met with Chinese Foreign Minister (FM) Qin Gang, in Beijing, on Tuesday.
On Business Environment in China
In a press release on the same day, the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted the FM saying that Chinese-style modernisation “will create unprecedented growth potential and market demand.”
“China’s new energy automobile industry has broad prospects for development,” he told the Tesla CEO.
With regards to the country’s controversial business environment for foreign enterprises, Qin told Musk that China “will continue to unswervingly promote high-level opening up, and is committed to creating a better market-oriented, legalised and internationalised business environment for companies from all over the world, including Tesla.”
On US-China Relationship
Noting that a “healthy, stable, and constructive” US-China relationship is beneficial to the world, Qin used Tesla as an analogy for developing Sino-US relations well, saying that both sides need to “keep the steering wheel in the right direction of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,” as proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Promoting sound China-US relations is like driving a car. One needs to keep to the right direction, hit the brakes when the road is bumpy, and step on the gas for mutually beneficial cooperation.
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) May 30, 2023
He added that they must make sure to “step on the brakes” in time, avoid “dangerous driving,” and be good at “stepping on the gas pedal” to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.
Musk was quoted as saying that Chinese people “are hardworking and intelligent.” and China’s “development achievements are taken for granted.”
“The interests of the United States and China are intertwined, like Siamese twins, who are inseparable from each other. Tesla opposes decoupling and breaking chains, and is willing to continue to expand its business in China and share China’s development opportunities,” Musk asserted.
Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Comment
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also commented on the business tycoon’s visit, saying that China “always welcomes business figures from all countries, including Mr. Musk, to visit China for a deeper understanding of the country and mutually beneficial cooperation.”
“China is firmly committed to advancing high-level opening up and fostering a market-oriented, law-based and internationalised business environment. We welcome foreign companies to invest and do business in China, explore the Chinese market and share in development opportunities,” she concluded.