Donald Trump is embarking on a major tour of Asia that the White House frames as pivotal for the global economy, with a confirmed meeting with China’s president Xi Jinping.
The us president announced on Wednesday a trip to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, his first visit to the region in his second term. The White House released the schedule on Thursday, confirming a bilateral with Xi on Thursday 30 October in South Korea on the sidelines of the APEC summit.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that on Thursday morning, local time, President Trump will hold a bilateral meeting with President Xi of the People’s Republic of China before departing for the United States.
Trade tensions and room for a deal
A long-simmering us china trade war burst into the open earlier this month after Beijing dramatically expanded export restrictions on rare earths. Trump threatened retaliatory tariffs and other measures, but has sounded more optimistic in recent days about a bilateral trade agreement, saying he believes both sides can do very well.
China and the United States are also due to hold new trade talks in the coming days in Malaysia, which from Sunday is hosting the ASEAN summit, China’s commerce ministry said.
All three host countries are expected to roll out the red carpet to win Trump’s favor on tariffs and security guarantees. Trump departs Washington today to attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia from 26 to 28 October, a gathering he skipped several times in his first term. There he is expected to conclude a trade deal with Malaysia and attend the signing of a Thailand Cambodia peace agreement.
Stops in Japan and South Korea
Trump travels to Japan on Monday and meets the next day with prime minister Sanae Takaichi, the first woman to lead the Japanese government. Takaichi said she wants sincere discussions with Trump. Tokyo signed a trade agreement with Washington in the summer, though some details still need to be worked out. The United States also wants Japan to halt imports of Russian energy and to increase defense spending.
The highlight of the tour is South Korea, where Trump is due to arrive on 29 October for APEC. On the sidelines, he will meet Xi in Gyeongju. Trump said Wednesday he hopes to reach agreement with his Chinese counterpart on all issues. He will also meet South Korean president Lee Jae myung, deliver remarks to business leaders and attend the APEC leaders’ dinner, according to the White House.
North Korea back on the agenda
North Korea, which fired ballistic missiles again on Wednesday, will be on the agenda. Trump said he hopes to meet leader Kim Jong un possibly this year, following their three summits during his first term. The White House has not confirmed reports of such a meeting during this trip, but South Korea’s unification minister said there is a strong possibility the encounter could happen next week, citing signals that Pyongyang is paying attention to the United States.
Source: AMNA