Ren Zhengfei spoke with reporters for the first time in nearly four years to defend the company he started in 1987 (Flickr / Huawei Press). Huawei’s reclusive founder emerges to deny espionage allegations, flatter Trump In his first interview with foreign media in nearly four years, Ren Zhengfei told reporters Huawei does not have regular contact with Beijing. Jan 15, 2019 By Jeff Stone