US President-elect Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Chinese leader Xi Jingping to attend the inauguration ceremony to be held next month. The invitation comes amid Trump's threats to significantly increase tariffs on Chinese goods, the Associated Press reported, as quoted by BTA.
Trump's press secretary-to-be Caroline Levitt confirmed that the invitation had been extended, but clarified that Xi's presence had not yet been confirmed.
„This is an example of how President Trump maintains an open dialogue with the leaders of countries that are not only not our allies, but also our opponents and rivals,” Levitt told “Fox News”. She added that Trump always puts America's interests first and is willing to talk to anyone to protect those interests.
According to "CBS News", the invitation to the Chinese leader was already sent in early November, shortly after Trump's victory in the presidential election on November 5.
Caroline Levitt reported that other world leaders were invited to the ceremony, but declined to give further details.
For its part, the Kremlin said Moscow had not received an invitation to Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony, which will take place on January 20.