US President-elect Donald Trump said he would welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at his inauguration on January 20 next year, but added that no formal agreement had been reached. Trump had invited the Chinese President in early November, shortly after his election win, but it was not clear whether he has accepted the invitation.
“If he would like to come, I would love to have him. But there is nothing much discussed,” Trump said. He added that the two leaders had “a very good relationship until COVID” but noted there had been some distance since.
Two people familiar with the planning told the BBC that Xi was unlikely to attend the ceremony in January. They said China’s ambassador to the United States was expected to be present, along with other officials from Beijing.
A CBC News informou que Trump convidou Xi para o rito de posse logo após o dia da eleição.
According to CBC News report, no foreign leader has attended a US presidential inauguration in the past. Trump’s spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, described the invitation as an effort to maintain “an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just allies but our adversaries and competitors too.”