Kushner’s family courts wealthy Chinese

BEIJING: White House senior adviser Jared Kushner’s family business is courting wealthy Chinese to buy stakes in real estate through a controversial government programme that offers US residency in exchange for investment.

Kushner’s sister Nicole Kushner Meyer was in Beijing on Saturday, seeking $150 million in investment in a luxury apartment complex project in New Jersey, according to US media reports.

Jared Kushner, 36, is a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump with farreaching influence over domestic and foreign policy, and stepped down from the family company in January to serve in the administration.

However, eyebrows have been raised as the Chinese investment sought by his family is to be funnelled through the US EB-5 visa programme.

The programme offers foreign nationals permanent residency — commonly known as a green card — in exchange for investments of at least half a million dollars in a US business that must also create 10 American jobs.

The New York Times reported that the family business’ investment drive is also “highlighting their ties to Kushner as they court investors”.

Speaking before more than 100 investors at Beijing’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Nicole Kushner Meyer said the project “means a lot to me and my entire family”, and mentioned her brother’s former role as Chief Executive of Kushner Companies, the report added. Photographs of the event showed promotional posters bearing the slogan: “Government supports it; Celebrity property developer builds it.” — AFP