China’s vice president held meetings with the US vice president-elect and US 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.
Han Zheng, who serves as an envoy for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the inauguration, “discussed a range of topics including fentanyl, balancing trade and regional stability” with JD Vance, according to the Trump transition team.
Mr Han stressed the “extensive common interests and enormous space of cooperation” the United States and China share in economic and trade relations despite “some disagreements and frictions”, according to a readout of his meeting with Mr Vance issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday.
Mr Trump has threatened to impose tariffs and other measures against China in his second term, while also hinting and ways in which the two rival powers could cooperate on issues such as regional conflicts and curbing the export of substances used in the production of fentanyl.
In an unorthodox move, Mr Trump last month invited Xi Jinping to his inauguration.
No head of state has previously made an official visit to the US for the inauguration, according to State Department historical records.
While Mr Xi will not personally attend the event, he and Mr Trump held a phone call on Friday during which they discussed trade, fentanyl and TikTok.
The Chinese social media app restored service to users in the US on Sunday, just hours after it went dark in response to a federal ban, which Mr Trump said he would pause by executive order on Monday.
Mr Han also met with Mr Musk and other top US business executives, including representatives of the US-China Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The Chinese vice president reiterated promises for an improved business environment for foreign firms in China and expressed hopes that US companies will continue expanding investment in the country.
