Trump To Hold High-Stakes Meeting With Xi Jinping During Asia Tour

US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on October 30 during a wide-ranging tour of Asia aimed at tackling trade disputes, strengthening alliances, and advancing regional peace efforts.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.

Trump’s itinerary includes stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, with discussions on trade, regional stability, and the ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing at the forefront.

Leavitt said the President will leave Washington on Friday and arrive in Malaysia on Sunday to attend the ASEAN summit, his first in several years. Trump will sign a trade agreement with Malaysia and witness a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia.

Stops in Japan and South Korea

In Tokyo, Trump will meet newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female leader. Observers say the meeting could reaffirm Tokyo’s close alignment with Washington, especially as Japan avoided the brunt of US tariffs during Trump’s first term.

Trump will then travel to South Korea, where he will meet President Lee Jae Myung and address a gathering of business leaders at the APEC summit in Gyeongju. Later, he is expected to dine with leading US technology executives and discuss investment cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The long-anticipated meeting between Trump and Xi will be the first since Trump’s return to office and comes amid a renewed trade dispute and tensions over China’s rare earth exports.

Trump had earlier threatened to cancel the meeting but later expressed optimism about achieving a ‘deal on everything’.

Analysts say global markets will be watching closely, hoping the talks might ease economic strains between the world’s two largest economies. Trump also indicated that he hopes Xi could use his influence to encourage Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

South Korea is reportedly considering awarding Trump the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, its highest civilian honour, during the visit. Meanwhile, North Korea’s recent missile launches have raised speculation about a potential fresh meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un, though the White House has not confirmed any such plans.

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