Microsoft President Brad Smith met with China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, on Wednesday. The discussion explored issues from artificial intelligence to the trade relationship between the U.S. and Beijing, as per a Chinese government announcement translated by Youdao.
The meeting emphasizes China’s efforts to signal that it remains open to American businesses, despite the ongoing tensions with the U.S., as part of its attempts to boost its economy.
The encounter between Smith and Wang is particularly notable as it follows a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month. Observers suggest these interactions demonstrate a mutual effort by China and the U.S. to collaborate in potentially fruitful areas, and to foster a better business environment for foreign companies.
During the meeting, Wang assured that China is committed to improving services for foreign businesses, as stated by the country’s commerce ministry. The Ministry of Commerce expressed its hopes for Microsoft to contribute constructively to the collaboration on artificial intelligence between China and the U.S.
Microsoft is viewed as a frontrunner in the AI sector, especially following its substantial multi-billion dollar investment in ChatGPT developer OpenAI earlier this year.
Meanwhile, several of China’s technology giants, including Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent, have been unveiling their own AI models and competing products.
Technology has been a sore spot in the U.S.-China relationship in recent years. Washington has attempted to limit China’s access to crucial technologies such as semiconductors, and recent U.S. export restrictions targeted Nvidia chips, which are used to train AI models.
During the meeting between Biden and Xi, both leaders recognized the need to manage the risks associated with advanced AI systems and enhance AI safety through U.S.-China government talks, as reported by the White House.
It seems the meeting between Smith and Wang reflected a similar sentiment.
Meetings between major U.S. tech firms and the Chinese government have become rarer in recent years due to escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing. Few U.S. tech companies operate in China, with services from Google parent company Alphabet and Meta platforms blocked in the world’s second-largest economy.
However, this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook, whose company recognizes China as its third-largest market, visited China. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also traveled to China, home to one of Tesla’s largest factories. This coincided with the easing of strict Covid-19 travel restrictions in 2022 and Beijing’s efforts to attract foreign businesses.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce reported that Smith stated Microsoft’s willingness to “actively participate in the digital transformation of China’s economy” and continue promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.
