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.

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

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

Vice President Han Zheng, China’s representative at Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, is a trusted adviser to President Xi Jinping, 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.

Vice President-elect JD Vance welcomed Vice President Han Zheng of the People's Republic of China to the United States on Sunday ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. The meeting between the two leaders comes amid heightened diplomatic engagement between the two global powers.

Han Zheng is in Washington D.C. as one of the many foreign leaders expected to attend Trump's inauguration Monday afternoon.

Vance and Han “discussed a range of topics including fentanyl, balancing trade, and regional stability,” the transition team said

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance resigned from his seat in Congress’ upper chamber on Thursday ahead of his inauguration as vice president to President-elect Donald Trump.

It is the hope of many that the inauguration of Donald Trump as US president on Monday presents the opportunity for China and the US to reset their relations and alter the trajectory, which due to their intensifying — but needless — rivalry over the past four years has put the two countries on a bumpy course.

President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20, succeeding President Joe Biden. Follow for live coverage.

Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will take the oath of office shortly before noon in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., in a scaled-back ceremony which was moved indoors due to bitter cold and gusty winds.