by Tyler Durden

It also comes soon after Elon Musk's visited earlier this month. Gates had previewed that the meeting would focus on global health and development challenges. Subsequently after the Friday meeting's conclusion, Bloomberg has cited Chinese state media to report, "China is willing to engage in extensive cooperation on technology and innovation with other countries, People's Daily reports, citing Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting with Bill Gates in Beijing on Friday."

Cooperation on tech might be among the very few final areas the geopolitical rival powers can find common ground on.

President Xi greeted Gates on Friday by saying, "I am very happy to see you. We haven't seen each other for more than three years … and you are an old friend of ours. He noted, "You are the first American friend I've met in Beijing this year."

"As the world is emerging from covid, people should move around more, communicate more, and enhance their understanding of each other," the Chinese leader added.

Xi spelled out that China stands ready and willing to engage in "extensive technological innovation cooperation with countries around the world" and "actively participate in and promote the response to global challenges," particularly in the areas of public health and the climate.