Washington Meeting Shows China-US Trade Momentum With Han Zheng And Elon Musk
In Washington, the vice president of the People’s Republic of China, Han Zheng, met with American entrepreneur Elon Musk. Xinhua reported on the encounter, framing it as a significant moment for bilateral business dialogue during a period of intense focus on cross-border investment and cooperation.
The discussions occurred on January 19, in the capital city, aligned with the inauguration week of US President-elect Donald Trump. Chinese officials traveled to participate in the ceremonial milestones and to engage with leading figures in American business as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties between the two economies.
During the talks, Han Zheng conveyed that China welcomes American companies to leverage the opportunities offered by the country’s vast market. The message explicitly included Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer led by Elon Musk, highlighting the potential for continued collaboration between the two nations in technology, manufacturing, and supply chains.
The businessman stated his readiness to deepen investments and broaden cooperation with Chinese partners. Musk emphasized that Tesla intends to play an active role in promoting economic and trade exchange between Washington and Beijing, underscoring the company’s commitment to expanding local production, research and development, and job creation within China.
From the material it follows that on the same day, the Chinese vice president met with representatives of the US business community. The exchanges were described as practical and forward-looking, focusing on concrete steps that could accelerate cross-border commerce and align regulatory approaches to support joint ventures and market access.
“We hope that American companies will continue to invest in China, take root in the country, play a unifying role, and make great contributions to the stable and sustainable development of China-US relations,” Han Zheng said during the talks, a sentiment echoed by participants who see opportunity in continued collaboration across sectors, including energy, technology, and consumer goods.
Observers noted that President-elect Trump’s plans to visit China within the first 100 days of his inauguration were also being considered as part of a broader strategy to reinforce people-to-people ties and business linkages between the two nations. The Washington engagement reflected a shared belief among business leaders and policymakers that steady dialogue can help overcome obstacles and expand mutually beneficial commerce.
The overall tone of the meeting suggested a pragmatic approach to China-US economic diplomacy, with both sides signaling openness to expanding investment, refining joint ventures, and coordinating on sectors such as electric mobility, digital commerce, and manufacturing. The discussions underscored the importance of maintaining stable, long-term collaboration to support growth, jobs, and innovation on both sides of the Pacific.