China's Vice President Han Zheng met on Sunday with Tesla CEO Elon Musk and other members of the U.S. business community in Washington D.C., the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.
Han told Musk he "welcomed Tesla and other U.S. companies to seize the opportunities and share in the benefits of China's development, and contribute to the growth of China-U.S. economic and trade relations," the report said.
U.S. 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.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
31 Comments
JJE
Interesting and a positive development.
Blacklabel
Very good. Hope to see cooperation and progress to improve this relationship.
deanzaZZR
It's great to see the VP of China meeting the new VP of USA.
TorafusuTorasan
To keep his head toasty, will the vice president of China be wearing a fur lined hat, or better yet a preschool child like fun dad Musk?
ArtistAtLarge
Let the games begin!
bass4funk
A good start. Keep China on their heels.
Tokyo Guy
I assume this is going to be the new normal; when the vice president (or equivalent) visits the US on official government business, they're going to meet Musk, not Vance.
While it hardly trips off the tongue, VPINO (vice president in name only) is basically going to be Vance's nickname from now on. Making Musk, I suppose, the de facto VP (which is even tricker to say. "DFVP?" Sounds like the next Village People song for Trump to boogie to.
lincolnman
Well, now we know who received the bribe and payoff for Trump for his Tik-Tok Full Flip-Flop...
Blacklabel
Does it matter as long as we get the results we need?
Musk can be “VP” to President Vance in 2028-2036 as well if he wants.
lincolnman
Elon asking Xi to send more Chinese tech workers to the US so he can fire higher paid US tech workers...
Or maybe a request for another Chinese Tesla factory to build cars to send to North America, putting higher paid US auto workers out of jobs...
Or maybe it was just a clear quid-pro-quo - donate $500 million to Trump and you can invade Taiwan...
The dirty deals are endless...
Just what you voted for, right MAGA-friends?
lincolnman
Great MAGA-world self-assessment...
Says Musk, Vivek, Yass...and Putin...
Blacklabel
none of whom are mentioned in this article.
lincolnman
Why did you delete Musk? Maybe because his pic was at the top and HE WAS MENTIONED IN THE TITLE?
geronimo2006
Cosy up to China for the money. How will Trump explain this to MAGA?
bass4funk
He did?
We need China and they need us, we need to work with each other.
JJE
He's a decent representative at the upcoming inauguration - as the article makes clear in the last bit.
There is no indication of anything untoward as opposed to a hospitable meeting between important people in the lead up to an event of monumental importance.
Wasabi
trump need $$$, the rest he do not care. That much we know.
wallace
Meglomanic Musk, the richest man in the world, nearly $500 billion. Own social network. Direct access to the American president the most powerful man in the world. Unelected. Trying to influence elections in Europe, maybe that's Trump's idea.
Desert Tortoise
Yes, yes, yes, come and set up your businesses in China so we can steal your knowledge and squeeze your balls a little harder. And these idiots suck up to this. A little short term profit and to heck with your nation.
bass4funk
So how is it that Musk can influence elections (allegedly) and Soros cannot? Why is it ok for the left to jump all over Musk on how he uses his money, but are completely silent when Soros is mentioned. When he uses his money for left causes that’s OK. It must as it for conservative that’s Bad, Why?
Blacklabel
And Zuck spent waaay more “bucks” in 2020 than Elon did in 2024, was totally fine.
JJE
Now that's a rant and a half about China.
The main problem with that idea is the rest of the world won't reciprocate.
The other significant problem is it would be counterproductive.
Bob Fosse
Is that your stance as an ‘America first patriot’?
Poor JD, he must be feeling like a third wheel.
Blacklabel
JD is feeling fine, about to be Vice President in 11 hours. What an amazing life story he has, they should make a movie about it.
Oh wait….
Also with a strong path to being President himself in 2029 and 2033.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Well, yes, Musk has to receive his orders.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Pro-tip: you don't keep a country on their heels by receiving marching orders from them.
bass4funk
No, that’s my common sense and geopolitical smarts firing on all 12 cylinders.
I think he feels beyond fantastic now.
Exactly, and that’s why by tomorrow Xi won’t be able to do that anymore!
TaiwanIsNotChina
I'm definitely a pro in putting America First compared to America's enemies.
Only the fact that China produces over 50% of Teslas worldwide.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Right that is why Tik Tok was shut down under Biden, because of the marching orders from Xi. Makes a lot of sense.
bass4funk
Yes.
No, that’s why Trump spoke to Xi, TikTok was crucial in helping to get Trump elected and now he’s going to turn his back on the kids that got him elected? He’s not heartless like the last administration, anyway they will have a US buyer soon.
Yes, it does