US and China discuss reciprocal visits to nuclear sites, CNN reports

The United States is exploring the possibility of reciprocal visits to nuclear sites with China, according to a CNN report citing sources familiar with the matter. The idea was initially raised by China in meetings with US officials this year, and discussions have centered around visits to national laboratories and equivalent Chinese facilities, CNN reported.

These talks have primarily taken place during UN Security Council meetings involving the five veto-wielding permanent members. The White House and the Chinese embassy in Washington declined to comment on the report. US President Donald Trump had called for trilateral arms control negotiations with China and Russia during a meeting with President Xi Jinping last month, but nuclear site visits were not discussed during their talks.

Beijing has maintained that its nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller than those of Russia and the US, rendering participation in such talks redundant in its view. Another meeting between Trump and Xi is anticipated later this year, potentially at the November Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China or during the December Group of 20 meetings.

It is expected that lower-level discussions on potential nuclear site visits will occur before their next meeting, according to CNN.