Musk praises Xi as great leader in Chinese state TV interview
Musk told China's state broadcaster CCTV that Xi is a "great leader" whose tenure has brought China "immense" prosperity -- the remark came a day before Trump's White House dinner for Xi, notable given Shanghai's role as Tesla's top production hub.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk called Chinese President Xi Jinping a "great leader" in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV on September 23. He said China has "prospered immensely" under Xi's tenure, pointing to the country's new buildings and infrastructure as evidence.
Musk also praised Tesla's Shanghai plant, calling it "a gem" and "beautiful," and described the local team as "incredibly talented, hardworking and trustworthy." Shanghai remains one of Tesla's largest production hubs globally.
The comments came a day before President Trump's White House state dinner for Xi -- the two leaders' second summit this year. Musk is expected to join other US CEOs at the dinner.
For Tesla shareholders, China is the company's second-largest market and a key export hub, so Musk's friendly tone toward Beijing is worth watching as a signal on trade and regulatory risk between the two countries.
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