PakkaHyderabadi 
US President Donald Trump set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea, with trade and security talks on the agenda
US President Donald Trump is quietly preparing for a potential visit to South Korea next month, where he could meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. Administration officials have confirmed that talks are underway to finalize Trump’s itinerary, with the visit seen as a significant chance for the US leader to engage with regional counterparts, particularly amid tense relations with China. According to CNN, a bilateral Trump-Xi meeting is under serious consideration, but concrete plans are yet to be set.
Senior officials reveal that Trump’s trip would focus on boosting economic cooperation. Top priorities for discussions include trade, defense, and civil nuclear matters, issues that have come to the fore following a volley of tariffs from both Washington and Beijing this year. The APEC summit is also being viewed as an opportunity for Trump to seek additional foreign investments into the US, consistent with his recent trips in the Middle East.
Notably, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung formally invited Trump to the summit during their recent meeting, highlighting the event’s regional diplomatic weight. The gathering could potentially allow for renewed contact between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though Kim’s participation in the summit has not been confirmed. Trump has publicly stated he’s open to another meeting with Kim if the occasion arises, emphasizing his willingness for dialogue on the Korean peninsula.
The diplomatic stage is further complicated by recent events in China, where President Xi hosted North Korean leader Kim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at high-profile state events, including a military parade and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. Trump criticized these meetings on social media, posting a photo of Xi, Putin, and Modi with the caption: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
Despite his online jabs, Trump tempered his tone afterward, calling China’s parade “a beautiful ceremony” and “very impressive.” He also reiterated that his personal ties with Xi, Putin, Modi, and Kim remain strong, asserting, “We’re going to find out how good it is over the next week or two.” In separate comments, Trump softened his rhetoric towards Modi, stating that India-US relations are “very well,” which Modi acknowledged and reciprocated warmly.
With the US-China trade dispute still simmering, this possible Trump-Xi meeting would unfold against the backdrop of high tariffs imposed by both sides earlier this year. While the US raised duties on Chinese imports to 145 percent and China responded with 125 percent tariffs on American goods, Trump issued an executive order last month postponing the hikes until November to allow further talks. Officials emphasize that these trade negotiations, alongside broader security and economic matters, are likely to dominate any discussions between Trump and Xi at APEC.
