MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Chinese president Xi Jinping will send a high-ranking official to the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the situation.
In mid-December, CBS News reported, citing several sources, that Trump had extended an invitation to Xi to attend his inauguration on January 20, 2025. Later, the broadcaster said that Xi will not attend the ceremony and that in his stead, the Chinese ambassador to the United States and his wife are expected to attend the event.
Another source said that the Trump team would rather welcome Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Xi’s alleged right-hand man.
Attendance by any of the aforementioned officials would reportedly be unprecedented, as never have any Chinese officials apart from the ambassador attended the inauguration of a US leader.
«The Chinese need to send the appropriate level of official to start the relationship off on the right foot,» the person said.
The Electoral College voted in accordance with the will of the voters on December 17, while the new Congress approved the results of the vote on January 6. The presidential inauguration will take place on January 20. After the inauguration, Trump will become the 47th president of the United States.
