US President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on 30 October. The White House confirmed the long-anticipated meeting, set to take place on the sidelines of a major regional summit.
The encounter has been in preparation for several weeks but was clouded by rising tensions between Washington and Beijing. It will be the first direct meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to office.
Trump has warned that he will impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods in November if Beijing refuses to ease restrictions on rare earth exports.
White House outlines plans for key summit
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the meeting on Thursday. It will occur during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (Apec) in Gyeongju, South Korea, from 31 October to 1 November.
Trump said, “I’ll be meeting with President Xi of China. We have a long meeting planned. We can resolve many doubts and strengthen our tremendous assets together.” He added, “I think something will work out. We have a very good relationship, but this will be a big one.”
Beijing shows cautious optimism ahead of talks
China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao expressed optimism on Friday about the upcoming discussions. He said past rounds of dialogue proved “it is entirely possible to find solutions to each other’s concerns” and “promote healthy, stable, and sustainable trade relations.”
His remarks signal that Beijing wants to restore calm and prevent another damaging escalation between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump expands diplomatic push across Asia
During his visit to South Korea, Trump will also meet President Lee Jae Myung and attend a working dinner with regional leaders. His broader Asian tour includes a stop in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit on Sunday.
According to the White House, Trump will also meet leaders from Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan, including Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Trade ceasefire at risk amid renewed friction
Trump and Xi have already spoken three times this year, most recently in September, when they discussed TikTok’s operations in the United States. Their last in-person meeting occurred in 2019, during Trump’s first term.
Trump maintains that direct talks with Xi are the most effective way to address disputes over trade, tariffs, and fentanyl trafficking.
Since May, both countries have observed a fragile trade ceasefire that prevented a new wave of tariffs.
However, Beijing’s move to tighten export controls on rare earth materials reignited tensions. Trump reacted by threatening a 100% tariff on Chinese imports and accused Beijing of becoming “very hostile” and trying to hold the world “captive.”
Despite earlier threats to withdraw, Trump decided to move forward with the meeting. China remains the dominant global supplier of rare earth elements, essential for manufacturing electric vehicles, smartphones, and advanced technologies.
