President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly told his advisors that he would like to visit China soon after taking office to strengthen personal ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
This information was shared with The Wall Street Journal by informed sources.
According to the newspaper, Trump’s aides caution that no final decision on such a visit has been made. One source noted that Trump expressed interest in traveling to China during the first 100 days of his presidency. Trump’s transition team did not respond to requests for comment.
Sources close to decision-makers in Beijing revealed that Trump and Xi, through their representatives, discussed the possibility of a personal meeting. One option considered was for the new U.S. president to invite the Chinese leader to the United States. It remains unclear whether Trump raised the idea of visiting China during his phone conversation with Xi on January 17.
Trump and Xi spoke by phone on Friday, January 17, for the first time since the November election. During the conversation, they discussed trade, fentanyl, TikTok, and other topics. “I hope we will solve many problems together and start immediately,” Trump wrote on social media afterward.
It is worth noting that Trump’s inauguration is scheduled for January 20. According to American tradition, world leaders are not invited to U.S. presidential inaugurations. However, in December, several media outlets reported that Trump had invited Xi to attend his inauguration, though Xi later declined.
