Xi Jinping tells his ‘old friend’ Bill Gates he hopes US-China friendship will continue

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on June 16, 2023. In their conversation, Xi said Gates was the “first American friend” he met this year and expressed hopes for activities beneficial to both China and the US. Gates also announced the donation of US$50 million to a research fund for a joint disease and medicine research organisation with China.