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.

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.

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.

Vice President Han Zheng will represent China at Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday, signalling a potential thaw in Washington-Beijing relations.View on euronews

Han Zheng is scheduled to attend the celebrations in Washington D.C. on Monday and is the most senior Chinese official to attend a U.S. inauguration.

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.