Xi Jinping Calls Bill Gates 'Old Friend' After Microsoft Co-Founder Donates $50 Million To Help China Fight Disease

Mr. Gates and Mr. Xi met ahead of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's expected visit to China on Sunday Credit: Yin Bogu/Xinhua

Chinese President Xi Jinping called Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates an «old friend» when they met in Beijing after the US business mogul pledged $50m (£40m) to help China fight disease.

The Chinese leader had a rare sit-down meeting with Mr. Gates during his trip to the nation's capital on Friday as part of his first visit to China in four years.

Bill. and the Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Thursday that the donation will be used to support China's efforts to fight malaria and tuberculosis.

Mr. Xi told the businessman, «We have always placed our hopes in the American people and hoped for continued friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

He added that Mr. Gates, one of the wealthiest men in the world of men, was «the first American I met in Beijing this year,» according to the state-owned People's Daily newspaper.

In response, Mr. Gates told the president that he was «very honored to have this chance to meet,» as heard in a recording distributed by state broadcaster CCTV.

He also praised China's efforts to «combat the pandemic Covid-19, setting a good example for the world,” according to state media.< /p>

He added that he was «very disappointed» that he had not visited the country for the past four years and that he was «very interested» in returning to China.

The Mr. Gates Foundation announced that it would resume collaboration with the Beijing-based Global Medicines Research Institute (GHDDI), which he set up with the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University.

The Gates Foundation said in a statement that the funding will support «efforts to improve global health outcomes through life-saving treatments for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poorest people.»

Mr. Gates gave a speech at GHDDI on Thursday in which he said that China «has made significant strides in reducing poverty and improving health outcomes in China,» according to the foundation.

He added, «I hope that China can play an even greater role in addressing current challenges, especially those facing African countries.”

Mr. Gates and Mr. Xi are meeting ahead of an expected visit to China by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken . , on Sunday, when the two countries «exchange views on Sino-US relations and major international and regional issues of mutual interest,» according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman , said at a regular briefing on Friday that «China will state its position and concerns about Sino-US relations and will resolutely defend its interests.»