Microsoft’s president and vice chairman have warned that Western countries should not think that China lags behind the United States and Europe in technological development.
U.S.-China tensions in recent years have centered on a contest between the two countries for technological supremacy, leading to numerous export restrictions on critical technologies. Late last year, China’s Huawei surprised the market by launching a smartphone whose reviews showed 5G-related download speeds. speculations flying around Regarding the apparent progress of chips in defiance of US technology sanctions.
Speaking at technology conference Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, on Tuesday, Microsoft’s Brad Smith told CNBC that “in many ways” China is getting closer or catching up with technology.
“Frankly, I think one of the dangers is that people who don’t go to China often think they’re behind,” he told CNBC’s Karen Tso. “But when you actually get there, you’ll be impressed by how hard they work.”
He predicted that Chinese and U.S. companies will compete on technology well into the future, and urged U.S. and European companies to work together to grow the economy and bring new advances such as artificial intelligence to the world. .
Microsoft CEO Brad Smith attends a conference at the Westin Palace Hotel on May 20, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.
Cesaro De Luca | Europa Press | Getty Images
Microsoft has been operating in China since 1992. According to the company’s webpageMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella said last year that while the company is not focused on China as a domestic market, it does serve Chinese companies and has a local presence. He said it was higher than that. and many other US tech giants.
Asked whether the transition between incumbent U.S. leader Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump will make it more difficult to trade, transfer technology, or move data, designs and innovation with China. Mr Smith responded that it was too early. know.
“The truth is that as a U.S. technology company, we can only do business in China if we provide services that the Chinese government wants us to provide in China and that the U.S. government also wants us to have in China.” That’s true,” he added. And in some cases, they’re looking at data centers to support, say, Mercedes or Siemens or Starbucks or General Motors, but there seems to be some comfort in consumer services. ”
He predicted a world in which some technology would move to China, and it would not be the technology companies who would decide.
—CNBC’s Jordan Novet contributed to this article.
