India, July 8 -- Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao has returned to the United States from China on Tuesday after questions swirled about her whereabouts while her husband remained hospitalized.

Staff for Chao told Newsweek that she had returned after saying over the weekend that there had been no need for her to head home before, despite concerns over McConnell's health.

McConnell who is now 84, is serving out his final term, which ends in January 2027 but has been missing from the Senate for multiple weeks.

Chinese state media reported that Chao met Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing on June 17, three days after McConnell was hospitalized.

Chinese reports said Han called for stronger US-China relations.

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