Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner have been invited to visit China – ahead of an official visit by the president himself.

The couple are extremely popular in the Asian nation, particularly after a video clip of their daughter singing in Mandarin went viral last year.

The couple, who both have official roles in the White House, have been invited to visit China “later this year”, according to Bloomberg, but no further details have been given. Earlier this year, Chinese media reported that the US president would visit the country in 2017. However, time is running out in the president’s packed schedule.

Insiders believe that neither visit is likely to take place before the Communist Party Congress, which is expected to be held in either October or November.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, America’s first daughter visited the embassy with her daughter Arabella Kushner where they met the ambassador and enjoyed traditional Chinese entertainment. Later that day, Ivanka posted a video on Instagram of Arabella singing in Mandarin, together with a new year message.

The invitation follows a verbal offer from President Xi Jinping during his trip to Mr Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to an unnamed Chinese source who spoke to Bloomberg.