The United States President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his second inauguration ceremony in Washington on 20th January, reports DC News.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson did not confirm an RSVP Friday, telling reporters they have no information to release.
Foreign policy experts doubt Xi will attend, in part because of security concerns. The invite itself is historic. According to State Department records no foreign head of state has attended a U.S. inauguration since at least 1874.
At they New York Stock Exchange Thursday Trump alluded to his invite.
“I was even thinking about inviting certain people to the inauguration, and some people say, ‘well, that’s a little risky, isn’t it…we’ll see,” said Trump.
U.S.-China relations have plummeted over the last decade because of trade and territorial disputes. Xi has also cozied up with U.S. adversaries like Russia and Iran.
White House spokesperson John Kirby did not criticize Trump’s invite to Xi, when asked by reporters he said it was Trump’s decision to invite who he wants.
Kirby says the Biden administration paved the way for better relations with China. President Biden met with President Xi privately last month in Peru during a global summit. Shortly after, the two countries agreed to a prisoner swap.
“That doesn’t mean that we don’t have disagreements…but I’m sure they will too,” said Kirby.
Trump campaigned on a promise to get tough on China and is threatening another round of tariffs.
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) says Trump’s invite to Xi is a marker of good diplomacy.
“I think we should be talking to our adversaries,” said Schmitt, ”I think President Trump very clearly understands who he is. He clearly understands China’s ambitions.”
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
