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 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.

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

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

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.

China is sending Vice-President Han Zheng to US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday - the first time a senior Chinese leader will witness a US president being sworn in. Trump had invited Chinese President Xi Jinping,