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

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.