A senior Chinese official known to be close to President Xi Jinping is considering visiting Japan next month, sources said Monday.
If Li Xiaolin, the youngest daughter of former President Li Xiannian, does visit, she should likely hold talks with senior Japanese officials as the two countries try to improve relations at least slightly before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in November in Beijing.
Li, head of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, was Xi's "emissary" and met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo the day before he took office Dec. 26, 2012, sources said earlier.