Chinese vice president attends Trump’s inauguration and strengthens China-US cooperation

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attended the inauguration of United States President Donald Trump in Washington, DC on Monday as Xi Jinping’s special representative. During the visit, he met with Vice President-elect JD Vance, American business leaders including Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, and John Thornton, president emeritus of the Brookings Institution.

Meeting with JD Vance

At Sunday’s meeting, Zheng conveyed Xi’s greetings to Trump and congratulated Vance on the election. He highlighted the recent phone call between Xi and Trump, which resulted in important consensuses for the development of bilateral relations. The Chinese leader emphasized that cooperation based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence can benefit both countries and contribute to world peace.

Vance conveyed Trump’s greetings to Xi and highlighted the relevance of economic and trade relations between the two countries, reaffirming the United States’ desire to promote a stable and productive relationship with China.

Interactions with American businesspeople

In meetings with business leaders, the vice president highlighted the role of the private sector in building Sino-American ties. He assured that China will continue to advance reform and opening-up, improving the business environment. American businesspeople expressed optimism about China’s economic prospects and advocated strengthening dialogue between the two economies.

Exchanges with Musk and Thornton

In meetings with Musk and Thornton, Zheng emphasized the importance of economic and cultural exchanges to consolidate bilateral relations. Both business leaders expressed willingness to collaborate to promote broader cooperation between the two countries.