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 President Xi Jinping has designated Vice President Han Zheng to represent China at Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. This decision signals China’s desire for stable relations with the US while avoiding the spotlight at Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.

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

Han Zheng will represent China at Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration on Jan 20, marking an unprecedented senior-level attendance from Beijing.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's Vice President Han Zheng will attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, Chinese state news agencies said on Friday, with Beijing ready to enhance dialogue with the new U.S. administration.

Vice President Han Zheng will attend the inauguration ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, the Foreign Ministry announced on

China's Vice President Han Zheng and Elon Musk met on Sunday ahead of President-elect Trump's inauguration, per Chinese state media. Why it matters: Chinese leader Xi Jinping deployed his top envoy to attend Trump's inauguration in an unprecedented move following Trump's threats to impose major tariffs on China.