By: The Trek News Desk
The White House has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week as part of his multi-nation Asia tour. The high-level meeting takes place at a time when trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies are escalating.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Thursday that the bilateral meeting between Trump and Xi will take place in Seoul on the morning of October 30, following which Trump will return to Washington. The meeting is scheduled just ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which will be held in Gyeongju, South Korea, on October 31 and November 1. Leavitt did not specify whether Trump himself would attend the APEC sessions.
Speaking to reporters a day earlier, Trump confirmed the meeting, saying, “We have a long meeting planned. I believe we can work out many of our differences and questions. Something positive will come out of it.”
The meeting will take place amid an ongoing trade standoff between Washington and Beijing. The Trump administration recently imposed a 30 per cent tariff on Chinese imports, with further hikes threatened if no trade agreement is reached soon.
In addition, Trump said he plans to urge Xi to halt China’s purchases of Russian oil. The statement came after Trump imposed a new round of sanctions on Moscow, his first since returning to the White House. The sanctions targeted Russian energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stating the move was a response to President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to end what he called the “senseless war” in Ukraine.
Overview of Trump’s Asia Tour
Press Secretary Leavitt also outlined President Trump’s full itinerary for his upcoming Asia trip:
- Friday night: Trump will depart Washington for Malaysia, arriving Sunday morning local time to attend the ASEAN Summit.
- Sunday afternoon: He will hold a bilateral meeting with the Malaysian Prime Minister, followed by the ASEAN leaders’ working dinner in the evening.
- Monday: Trump travels to Tokyo, where he will meet Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday.
- Wednesday, October 29: The U.S. president will head to Busan, where he is expected to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO luncheon, and attend the leaders’ dinner that evening.
However, according to The Korea Economic Daily, the Trump–Lee meeting will actually take place in Gyeongju, the host city of this year’s APEC summit. Officials suggested the confusion may have arisen because Busan is believed to be the potential venue for Trump’s meeting with Xi. Leavitt did not confirm the exact location of the U.S.-China summit.
South Korea’s National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters,
“These consecutive summits are not only about dialogue but about building consensus for peace, prosperity, and stability across the Asia-Pacific region.”
Meanwhile, South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said that despite ongoing cooperation, Seoul and Washington remain divided over the implementation of a $350 billion investment pledge, part of a broader deal aimed at reducing tariffs on Korean exports to the U.S.
Source: News Agencies
