China’s former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli made his first public appearance Sunday since Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai accused him of sexual assault last year.

The 75-year-old arrived onstage at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing behind President Xi Jinping and other retired and current leaders.

In November last year, Zhang was accused of sexual assault Peng. However, the post was later removed from social media and Peng denied making the allegations.

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Who is Zhang Gaoli?

Zhang, 75, served as the senior Vice Premier of the State Council between 2013 and 2018. He was a member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee, China’s highest ruling council, between 2012 and 2017.

During his time as vice-premier, he presided over preparation meetings for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Zhang had served as the Communist Party Secretary of Tianjin between 2007 and 2012, and the Party Secretary in the economic powerhouse of Shandong province between 2002 and 2007.

He was also involved in China’s Belt and Road project. He also spoke as President Xi Jinping’s special envoy at a UN climate conference in 2014.

He chaired the ad-hoc steering committees overseeing the Three Gorges Dam, the South–North Water Transfer Project, and the Commission on Food Safety of the State Council.

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Since retiring from his role, he has mainly stayed out of the spotlight.

Zhang has been described as having a “pragmatic style,” according to Duowei News.

Zhang is married to Kang Jie, whom he met while working in the oil company in Maoming. The two have a son together. He also has an adopted daughter Zhang Xiaoyan, who is the biological daughter of his cousin.

Zhang Xiaoyan is married to Li Shengpo, the son of Hong Kong businessman Lee Yin Yee of Xinyi Glass.