WASHINGTON: The United States has invited the leaders of China and Japan for prestigious state visits, President Barack Obama's top security adviser said Friday, signaling a deepening of his "pivot to Asia."
"In furtherance of our relationships throughout this vital region, I'm pleased to announce today that we have invited Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe of Japan and President Xi Jinping of China for state visits," said National Security Adviser Susan Rice.
Rice also said that President Joko Widodo of Indonesia and President Park Chung-hee of South Korea would also visit the United States this year.
Xi's visit to the White House would be the first since becoming Chinese leader.
Beijing has seen Obama's "pivot" to Asia as a possible attempt to contain China's meteoric rise, a claim Washington denies.
The announcement comes as the United States and Japan approach the final stage of talks on a vast trade agreement that would link a dozen countries on either side of the Pacific Ocean.
The timing of the state visits was not clear, but Abe's arrival is only expected after the conclusion of the trade deal, which still faces major hurdles.
President Obama has yet to ask Congress to give him authority to negotiate a deal, amid opposition from within his own Democratic party.
His negotiating partners want to see that authority in place before putting the final touches on an agreement, but issues like agriculture and auto tariffs are potential stumbling blocks.
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