US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 30 in South Korea, marking their first in-person talks since Trump’s return to office. The bilateral meeting, confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, will take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju.
The meeting had been in discussion for several weeks and comes amid renewed US-China tensions over trade and export restrictions. China‘s decision to tighten restrictions on rare earth exports, vital materials for electronics and defence industries, has led to escalating friction between Washington and Beijing. In response, Trump has threatened to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods beginning in November, a move that has heightened global market anxiety.
According to the White House, the discussion between the two leaders is expected to cover a range of issues, including trade relations, nuclear security and China’s purchase of Russian oil. Trump has reportedly expressed optimism about reaching agreements on “a lot of our doubts and questions”, adding that he believes the talks could produce constructive outcomes.
The upcoming meeting will be the first direct encounter between the two since 2019, when they met at the G20 summit in Japan. Trump is also expected to raise the topic of ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, noting that Xi has shown interest in seeing the conflict resolved.
The South Korea leg of Trump’s Asia Tour will also include meetings with the South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Malaysian leaders. His schedule includes a working dinner for leaders and participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Malaysia earlier in the week.
While officials have not disclosed the full agenda, observers say the Trump-Xi meeting could set the tone for future negotiations between the world’s two largest economies. As both leaders convey their willingness to engage, the meeting in South Korea could serve as a key moment in redefining the balance of US-China relations.
