Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special envoy He Wei will attend the inauguration of Madagascan President-elect Andry Rajoelina in Tananarive, the capital of Madagascar, on Jan. 19, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced Thursday.
He Wei is vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The attendance comes at the invitation of Rajoelina.
Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court upheld Rajoelina’s victory in the second round of presidential voting last month.
Rajoelina, who returns to the presidency after serving from 2009-2014, beat back a challenge from another former president, Marc Ravalomanana.
Rajoelina took 55.7 percent and Marc Ravalomanana won 44.3 percent, according to the final results.
Ravalomanana had complained of widespread fraud and petitioned the Constitutional Court, which threw out his case as “unfounded”. Rajoelina also made allegations of fraud in the election. European and African Union election observers said they had not seen any evidence of significant wrongdoing.
Rajoelina will be sworn in on Saturday.
