Vice President Han Zheng, China’s representative at Donald Trump's inauguration, is a trusted adviser to President Xi Jinping and a long-time survivor of Chinese politics who rose from toiling on a collective farm and in factories to becoming one of the most powerful people in the country.

US Vice President-elect J.D. Vance met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. The parties discussed several topics, CNN reports. According to a representative of the transition, they discussed a wide range of issues,

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.

(250120) -- WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, as Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative, meets with U.S. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Chinese leader Xi Jinping may not have personally accepted US President-elect Donald Trump’s invitation to his inauguration, but Beijing has taken the rare step of dispatching a top official to join the swearing-in ceremony in Washington.

Excerpt: A Chinese presidential envoy has met with Vance and Musk to hold discussions on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration. China’s Vice President Han Zheng met with US Vice

Vice President J.D. Vance took the oath of office at the Capitol Rotunda, putting him in line to carry the torch of the MAGA movement.

Han Zheng, China's vice president, met with U.S. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and Tesla Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elon Musk in the United States. Han is on a visit to the U.S. to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Mr Han said US firms were welcome in China during the sit-down in Washington with Mr Musk. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Upon invitation, Han attended the inauguration ceremony of U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

China’s vice president held meetings with the U.S. vice president-elect and U.S. business leaders, including Elon Musk, in Washington on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, as the two major powers tackle ongoing tensions over trade and technology.

US President Donald Trump said he is considering 10 per cent tariffs on imports from China, starting on February 1, as a penalty for the flow of fentanyl, which is responsible for thousands of deaths in the US annually.