Musk's jet lands in Beijing as foreign ministry extends welcome

Elon Musk’s private jet has landed in Beijing in what would be the billionaire’s first visit to China in three years.

“China welcomes Mr. Musk and other leaders from the business community to have a better understanding of China and promote mutually beneficial cooperation,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Tuesday in Beijing.

“We would like to see foreign investors operating in China, exploring the Chinese market and sharing in the dividends of the development of China,” she added.

Musk was meeting Tuesday with senior Chinese officials and also plans to visit Tesla Inc.’s Shanghai factory, people familiar with the matter said earlier, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

China will create a better market-oriented business environment for enterprises from all countries, including Tesla, China's foreign minister Qin Gang said during a meeting with Musk.

China will continue to unswervingly promote high-level opening-up and strive to create a better international business environment, Qin told Musk, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.

He will potentially meet Premier Li Qiang to discuss automated-driving technology that Tesla is seeking to introduce in China, a source told Bloomberg.

Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Tesla is nearing the final stages before starting trial production of its revamped Model 3 sedan in Shanghai, which Musk is betting will compete more effectively with Chinese rivals. The revised version is slightly longer than the earlier version, is sportier and has a sleeker interior design.

Tesla’s Shanghai plant accounted for more than half its global production in 2022, and the factory can now produce as many as 1.1 million cars a year. Shipments from Tesla’s Shanghai facility dropped in April, a sign consumers may be casting around for other EVs as manufacturers across the country drop their prices.

The U.S. automaker contributed almost one-quarter of Shanghai’s total automotive production value last year, and local authorities pledged earlier this month to continue to boost ties with the company through autonomous driving and robot modules.

Reuters contributed to this report.