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).

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.

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 leader Xi Jinping sent Vice President Han Zheng to the inauguration, an official whose seniority signals Beijing is ready to engage. After arriving in the U.S., Han wasted no time in doing just that.

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 J.D. Vance, according to the Trump transition team.

Han Zheng, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s envoy at Trump’s Inauguration, discussed fentanyl, trade, and technology with Vance and Musk.

Good start, stable development of China-US relations to serve well-being of Chinese and American people, Han Zheng tells American businesses - Anadolu Ajansı

US President-elect Donald Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the inauguration after winning last year's presidential election. Xi has sent Han in his place.

President Biden pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and others who some speculated may have faced investigations under the incoming Trump administration on Monday. Biden's pardons come just hours before he is set to depart the White House and President-elect Trump takes the oath of office once again.

Monday’s Forbes Daily revisits Forbes’ best reporting on the incoming Trump Administration, including China’s meetings in D.C., advice for your investment portfolio and more.

Donald Trump will be sworn in for a second term as president Monday—with every living former president, billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, Carrie Underwood, the Village People and several foreign leaders getting invitations.