Tesla CEO Elon Musk has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “great leader”, saying China has prospered significantly during Xi’s tenure in comments broadcast by Chinese state television.
Musk made the remarks in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) released on Wednesday, September 23, just one day before Xi was expected to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington for their second summit of 2026.
Musk pointed to China’s extensive construction and infrastructure development as evidence of the country’s progress, saying he had seen the changes firsthand.
“Under his tenure, China has prospered immensely,” Musk said, according to Reuters.
He also said that the increased prosperity of ordinary Chinese citizens was visible simply by walking through the country’s streets, attributing that development to Xi’s leadership.
Musk praises Xi’s leadership
Musk described Xi as a “great leader” and said he was “very capable,” according to footage from the CCTV interview.
The comments were broadcast as Xi prepared for a high-profile visit to the United States and talks with Trump, putting Musk’s remarks in an unusually prominent geopolitical context.
The Trump-Xi meeting is expected to be closely watched because the two countries remain major economic competitors while also maintaining extensive commercial ties.
Musk is also expected to attend a White House state dinner for Xi, alongside other prominent US business executives.
Tesla’s deep ties to China
Musk’s comments also come against the backdrop of Tesla’s extensive operations in China.
Tesla’s Shanghai facility is the company’s largest manufacturing hub outside the United States and a major export centre.
During the CCTV interview, Musk praised the workers at the Shanghai plant, describing the team as “incredibly talented, hardworking and trustworthy.”
He went further in describing the facility itself as a “gem” and praised its appearance and operations.
The Shanghai factory has long been strategically important to Tesla, making China an important part of the electric-car maker’s global production and sales network.
Tesla’s China business faces a changing market
Musk’s comments came as Tesla continues to navigate a competitive Chinese electric-vehicle market.
According to the Reuters report carried by AsiaOne, sales of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles produced at the Shanghai plant increased 3.6% year-on-year in August.
However, that represented a sharp slowdown from the previous month, highlighting differing sales trends across Tesla’s major markets.
China has also become one of the world’s most competitive markets for electric vehicles, with domestic manufacturers expanding rapidly across multiple price segments.
Musk also praises China’s AI industry
The CCTV interview was broader than Tesla and Xi’s leadership.
Musk also praised China’s artificial-intelligence capabilities, adding another layer to his comments at a time when Washington and Beijing are competing over advanced AI technology.
The South China Morning Post reported that Musk discussed Chinese AI models and manufacturing capabilities during the interview, while also emphasizing his positive assessment of the country’s development.
The remarks come as AI has become a major point of competition between the United States and China, with both governments seeking technological advantages in areas ranging from computing and robotics to advanced military and commercial applications.
Musk’s China business ties draw scrutiny
Musk’s relationship with China has attracted particular attention because his business interests extend well beyond Tesla.
He also controls SpaceX, a major US aerospace contractor whose business includes work for the US government.
The South China Morning Post noted that Musk’s extensive commercial interests in China have drawn scrutiny in Washington because of his simultaneous role in the US aerospace and defense sector.
Tesla has previously dismissed speculation that its Chinese operations could be separated from the wider company ahead of potential corporate changes involving Musk’s businesses.
Why the timing matters
Musk’s comments came at a particularly sensitive moment in US-China relations.
Xi was due to meet Trump on Thursday, September 24, in what Reuters described as the leaders’ second summit of 2026.
Musk was expected to attend the accompanying White House state dinner with other major technology and business leaders.
The dinner is expected to bring together executives whose companies have significant interests in China, including technology, manufacturing and financial services.
Musk’s public praise for Xi therefore arrives at a moment when Washington and Beijing are attempting to manage both geopolitical tensions and extensive economic ties.
Musk’s comments contrast with tensions between Washington and Beijing
The remarks do not necessarily indicate a change in US government policy or Tesla’s corporate strategy.
Rather, they represent Musk’s personal assessment, delivered in an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
The interview also illustrates the unusual position Musk occupies in the US-China relationship: he is simultaneously one of America’s most prominent technology executives, the head of companies with significant US government relationships, and the leader of a company with major manufacturing operations in China.
As Xi prepares for talks with Trump, Musk’s unusually warm comments about the Chinese president are likely to attract attention on both sides of the Pacific.
