Maye Musk, the renowned model, author, and mother of tech mogul Elon Musk, has expressed her enduring fascination with China and praised Chinese people for their relentless drive to innovate and stay "ahead of the game."
Maye Musk has been traveling to China for decades, and her popularity in the country surged after the Chinese edition of her memoir "A Woman Makes A Plan" was released in 2020. Her high-profile engagements in Shanghai over the years, ranging from modeling work and book promotions to brand events, have solidified her celebrity status across China.
Speaking with China Media Group (CMG) in Shanghai on Saturday, the 78-year-old said she had already explored 14 cities across China, always discovering something new on each visit to the vast country.
"I learn something new about every city. We just explore different places, and it's all good," she said.
Maye's comments came on the heels of a social media exchange with her son who recently posted on X recommending that his followers visit China. She reposted her son's comments and added her own enthusiastic endorsement, praising China for its cultural charm, clean and safe cities, and hard-working people.
"Elon speaks from his heart and he loves China, so he let people know. And then when I saw that, I said, 'Oh, I've been to more cities than him,'" she said when recounting the lighthearted exchange.
Drawing on her firsthand experiences, she named safety, culture, and scenery as the standout attractions that continue to lure international travelers to China. But she also offered high praise for the quality of Chinese products and the forward-looking mindset of its people.
"I learned about products that I didn't even know were important. I think you're doing everything to be ahead of the game, just because you have very smart people, and they want to do something special and they can see what's important in the future," she said.
For Maye, the joy of travel lies in discovery and China's ever-changing urban landscapes that never fail to surprise her.
"It's always something new that I see every time I come to Shanghai. A different building, a different restaurant, or walking along the Bund, it's lovely. So, I love exploring," she said, reflecting on her latest trip to Shanghai and its iconic waterfront area.
Maye Musk finds endless fascination in exploring Chinese cities
European bond markets have come under significant strain after long-term U.S. Treasury yields recently surged to nearly 20-year highs.
Although recent interventions by the U.S. Treasury Department temporarily eased selling pressure on American debt, European sovereign bond markets remain broadly under pressure.
On Friday, the yield on the 30-year U.S. Treasury bond climbed to 5.273 percent. Earlier in the week, the yield briefly touched 5.34 percent, marking its highest level since 2007.
Yields on major European government bonds have risen in tandem. As of Friday, the yield on Germany's 10-year government bond hovered around 3.25 percent, approaching a 15-year high. France's 10-year yield broke through 4.13 percent, reaching its highest point since 2008, while Italy's 10-year yield climbed to 4.08 percent.
Market analysts warn that volatility in the U.S. bond market will continue to weigh on European countries. UK-based asset manager Aberdeen Investments noted that the U.S. Treasury Department's recent buyback of government debt sent a clear signal of its willingness to cap long-term borrowing costs. However, the firm pointed out that this strategy has not extended to the UK or other European countries, indicating that European bonds will continue to weaken in the future.
Guy Miller, chief market strategist at Zurich Insurance Group, stressed that the trajectory of U.S. Treasury yields is crucial not only for the bond market, but also for other financial assets in Europe. He warned that any further upward breakthroughs could severely undermine market confidence.
The surge in U.S. Treasury yields has already begun to alter European investors' asset allocation strategies. Denmark's Saxo Bank said that U.S. Treasury yields remain a primary cross-market risk, with elevated yields and lingering inflation concerns continuing to pressure European technology and financial stocks.
Meanwhile, ING Group, a Dutch multinational lender, noted that European asset managers have inadequately hedged the currency risks associated with their U.S. assets, suggesting that severe volatility in the U.S. Treasury market could further amplify the risks faced by European investors.
Looking ahead, Mark Dowding, chief investment officer for fixed income at Canada's BlueBay Asset Management, warned that if U.S. economic growth slows and concerns over the sustainability of U.S. government debt intensify, European financial markets could face a much sharper adjustment.
European bond markets strain after U.S. Treasury yields surge to 20-year high
