Tesla chief executive Elon Musk meets Chinese foreign minister in Beijing

China’s foreign minister Qin Gang and Elon Musk in Beijing (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China/AP)

China’s foreign minister met Tesla chief executive Elon Musk on Tuesday and said strained US-Chinese relations require “mutual respect”, while delivering a message of reassurance that foreign companies are welcome.

US-Chinese relations are especially tense after Washington shot down a Chinese balloon believed to be gathering intelligence and warned Beijing against supplying arms to Russia for its war against Ukraine.