WASHINGTON

Microsoft founder Bill Gates said Wednesday he has arrived in China for his first visit to the global superpower in four years. 

Gates is "excited to visit with partners who have been working on global health and development challenges with @gatesfoundation for more than 15 years."

He was referring to his and his wife's foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"The world was making huge progress in reducing child deaths and poverty, but global crises set us back. African countries are particularly vulnerable, with high food prices, crushing debt, and increasing rates of TB and malaria. That’s why I’m heading to West Africa next," he wrote on Twitter.

"Solving problems like climate change, health inequity and food insecurity requires innovation. From developing malaria drugs to investing in climate adaptation, China has a lot of experience in that. We need to unlock that kind of progress for more people around the world," he added.

Additional details on the visit were not immediately available.