BEIJING (AP) 鈥� China鈥檚 foreign minister met Tesla Ltd. CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday and said strained U.S.-Chinese relations require 鈥渕utual respect,鈥� while delivering a message of reassurance that foreign companies are welcome.
U.S.-Chinese relations are especially tense after Washington shot down a Chinese balloon believed to be gathering intelligence and warned Beijing against supplying arms to Russia for its war against Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported China has rejected a request for its defense minister to meet the U.S. defense secretary when both are in Singapore this weekend.
鈥淲e need to keep the steering wheel in the right direction of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation,鈥� Qin Gang told Musk, according to a ministry statement.
The two sides should 鈥渁void 鈥榙angerous driving,鈥� 鈥� Qin said. He gave no details of steps to improve relations.
Musk's visit comes at a time when the ruling Communist Party is trying to revive investor interest in China's slowing economy. following raids on consulting firms and given the strained Chinese relations with Washington.
Qin said China will 鈥渦nswervingly promote high-level opening up鈥� and create a 鈥渕arket-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment,鈥� according to the statement. 鈥淐hina鈥檚 development is an opportunity for the world.鈥�
market 鈥渉as broad prospects for development,鈥� the ministry quoted Qin as saying. China accounts for sales and is the site of Tesla鈥檚 first factory outside the United States.
opened the first wholly foreign-owned auto factory in China in 2019 after Beijing eased ownership restrictions to increase competition and speed up industry development.
The Chinese statement cited Musk as saying Tesla was willing to expand its business in China and 鈥渙pposes decoupling,鈥� a reference to fears the world may split into multiple markets with incompatible products.
Tesla didn't respond to requests by email for information about Musk's visit to China.
Joe Mcdonald, The Associated Press
