China's Vice President Xi Jinping
Jinping is currently on track to become Communist Party secretary in late 2012 and will probably replace Hu Jintao as president the following year. REUTERS

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who is visiting the United States this week, is a self-professed NBA basketball fan who will likely watch the Los Angeles Lakers play on Friday.

Xi, who is slated to become the leader of China by 2013 (which would arguably make him the most powerful man in the world), reportedly discussed hoops during his brief chat with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

I understand you're also going to be going to Los Angeles and maybe even taking in a Lakers game. So I hope you enjoy that very much, Obama told the Chinese dignitary.

According to Agence France Presse, Xi and US Vice President Joseph Biden will attend a Lakers game on Friday when they play the Phoenix Suns.

Xi told the Washington Post that NBA games are exciting to watch and have global appeal. They are very popular in China. I do watch NBA games on television when I have time.”

Reportedly, Xi also wanted to attend a Los Angeles Clipper game (featuring all-star point guard Chris Paul), but his schedule would only permit him to go to one game while he’s in southern California.

It is unknown if Xi and Obama discussed the latest sensation in the NBA, Taiwanese-American Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks.

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