For Donald Trump’s inauguration, China is sending Vice President Han Zheng. This comes after the incoming US president invited Xi Jinping to attend the January 20 event — a break from tradition

BEIJING: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with tech tycoon Elon Musk and urged US firms to "seize the opportunity" to deepen economic ties with China, Beijing's state media said on Monday (Jan 20).

China's leader Xi Jinping is sending a top envoy to attend President-elect Trump's inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Beijing confirmed. Why it matters: The "unprecedented" deployment of Xi's special representative,

Beijing is ready to work with Washington to promote the "steady, healthy and sustainable" growth of China-United States relations for the benefit of both countries and the world, a top Chinese envoy said after the new US administration took office on Monday.

Trump advisor Elon Musk has longstanding business ties in China.

Han has used the visit to meet with members of the American business community, including Tesla CEO and close Trump associate Elon Musk, according to Chinese state agency Xinhua. Musk is widely thought to be seen by Beijing as more sympathetic to its interests than others in Trump’s orbit.

Vice President Han Zheng, China's Representative at ... atmosphere to avoid major pitfalls during Trump's second term. Beijing appears to have put considerable thought into how receptive Trump ...

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan. 11, 2025. Credit: AP/Florence Lo Throughout his career, Han has shown a flair for low-key ...

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng will attend Donald Trump's inauguration, marking a significant change as no senior Chinese official has previously done so. This visit aims to improve US-China relations amidst concerns over Trump's cabinet's stance on China.

Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng has held talks with the US vice-president-elect J.D. Vance and tech billionaire Elon Musk at separate meetings in Washington ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to a "long and fruitful" relationship.

Chinese officials and ordinary people are hopeful but on edge as Donald Trump returns to the White House, eager to avoid a repeat of the bruising trade war that drove a wedge between the economic superpowers during his first term.