Chinese delegation may meet Trump team in Davos

There is possibility of a meeting between the Chinese delegation and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's transition team members on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland next week.

According to observers, with concerns over trade protectionism and anti-globalization swirling, such a meeting could help narrow positions on trade and sensitive political issues, reports the China Daily.

President Xi Jinping will lead the Chinese delegation to Switzerland for a state visit from Sunday to Wednesday. On Tuesday, he will become the first top Chinese leader to attend the Davos meeting.

Given that Trump will take office on January 20, "someone from the transition team representing the new administration "will attend the forum, Klaus Schwab, forum executive chairman, said on Tuesday. It remains unclear who the representative would be.

Asked whether a Trump representative would meet with the Chinese delegation at Davos, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Baodong said on Wednesday at a news briefing on Xi's trip that "there are open channels of communication" between Beijing and Trump's team.

Beijing is willing to arrange meetings with various parties if time permits on the sidelines of the Davos forum, so "the relevant two-way meetings are being discussed", Li said, without directly confirming a meeting with the Trump team.