Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang meets with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in Beijing
Tesla opposes decoupling and is willing to continue to expand its business in China and share in China's development opportunities, Musk said.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk began his meetings with Chinese officials upon his arrival in Beijing.
On May 30, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Musk in Beijing, according to a statement on the Chinese Foreign Ministry website.
Chinese-style modernization will create unprecedented growth potential and market demand, and China's new energy vehicle (NEV) industry has a promising future, Qin said.
China will continue to unswervingly promote a high level of opening up to the outside world and is committed to creating a better market-oriented, rule-of-law and international business environment for enterprises from all countries, including Tesla, he said.
China's development is an opportunity for the world, and a healthy, stable and constructive US-China relationship will benefit both China and the United States, as well as the world, Qin said.
To develop Sino-US relations well, it is necessary to hold the steering wheel and move forward in the right direction of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as proposed by President Xi Jinping, he said, using the analogy of Tesla's car.
The United States and China need to "apply the brakes" in time to avoid "dangerous driving"; good at "stepping on the accelerator pedal" to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, Qin said.
The Chinese people are hardworking and wise, and China's development achievements are well deserved, Musk said, according to the statement.
The interests of the United States and China are intertwined, like Siamese twins inseparable from each other, Musk said.
Tesla is opposed to decoupling and the disconnection of the supply chain and is willing to continue to expand its business in China and share the opportunities of China's development, Musk said.
The statement provided no further content. Qin previously knew Musk when he was China's ambassador to the United States.
On March 4, 2022, Qin tweeted that he had an inspiring conversation with Musk about cars on the road, stars in the sky, research on the human brain, the meaning of life on Earth and our future into space.
Last August, Qin congratulated Tesla's Shanghai plant for seeing its one millionth production vehicle roll off the line, citing it as a model for US-China cooperation.
"In less than 3 years, from 0 to 1,000,000. This is a marvelous achievement," Qin said in a retweet of Musk's tweet on August 16, 2022.
China's foreign ministry says welcome as Musk arrives in Beijing