BEIJING—Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday met with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates in Beijing ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a time of strained relations.
The state broadcaster CCTV showed Xi saying he was happy to see Gates, who he called an “old friend,” after three years without meeting during the pandemic.
“I believe that the foundation of Sino–U.S. relations lies in the people,” Xi said to Gates. “Under the current world situation, we can carry out various activities that benefit our two countries, the people of our countries, and the entire human race.”…