Bill Gates, the super-rich American co-founder of Microsoft and philanthropist is holding a crucial meeting with President Xi Jinping today.
Bill Gates is holding this meeting after his foundation announced $50 million to help China to combat malaria and tuberculosis diseases.
He is amongst the richest Western business leaders to visit China since the country ended Covid-19 curbs.
File photo of Malinda Gates and Bill Gates before their divorce.
The state media of China said that Bill Gates-Xi meeting is a rare sit-down between the Chinese head of state and a foreign business leader.
“On June 16, President Xi Jinping will meet in Beijing with Bill Gates, head of the Gates Foundation,” state broadcaster CCTV said.
The meeting is taking place ahead of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visit to China on Sunday.
On Thursday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced $50 million to support Chinese efforts to fight malaria and tuberculosis.
The foundation announced it would renew a collaboration with the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) – a Beijing-based group set up by Gates, the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University.
The $50 million will support “efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world’s poorest”, the Gates Foundation said in a statement.
On Thursday, Gates gave a speech at GHDDI, the Gates Foundation said, hailing China’s efforts in eradicating malaria and poverty reduction.
“China has made significant gains reducing poverty and improving health outcomes within China,” Gates said.
“I’m hopeful China can play an even bigger role in addressing the current challenges, particularly those facing African countries.”
Microsoft co-founder last visited China in 2019. During visit he met with first lady Peng Liyuan to discuss his foundation’s work in HIV/AIDS prevention.
A string of American business leaders have visited China in 2023, talking up their optimism about its vast market and trade ties between the two economic powerhouses.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon visited China in recent weeks, as did Tesla CEO Elon Musk, his first visit in more than three years.
