US President Donald Trump and his senior advisors are quietly preparing for a visit to South Korea in late October for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, with serious talks underway about a possible bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, CNN reported citing administration officials.
The summit, scheduled to take place in Gyeongju between late October and early November, is being viewed as a significant opportunity for Trump to engage directly with Xi. While discussions for a meeting are ongoing, officials stressed that no final decision has been made.
Last month, Xi had invited Trump and his wife to visit China during a phone call. Trump reciprocated the invitation, though no dates have yet been set. Officials also suggested that the White House is considering additional stops during the Asia trip.
A senior White House official told CNN that Trump’s South Korea visit would focus on boosting economic collaboration, including trade, defence, and civil nuclear cooperation, while also seeking new investments in the US.
The trip could also set the stage for another meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though Kim’s participation at the APEC summit remains uncertain. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, during his recent meeting with Trump, had suggested the summit could serve as a venue for a potential Trump-Kim dialogue.
Addressing reporters, Trump indicated openness to such a meeting. “I will do that, and we’ll have talks. He’d like to meet with me. We look forward to meeting with him, and we’ll make relations better,” he said.
The anticipated South Korea visit comes at a delicate moment in Trump’s ties with both Beijing and Pyongyang. His recent criticism of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin—where Xi hosted Kim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi—underscored ongoing tensions.
On social media, Trump reacted sharply to the event, writing, “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America.” He also commented on the presence of India and Russia at the gathering, remarking that they had moved closer to China.
Despite these remarks, Trump struck a positive note on US-India relations, calling them a “very special relationship.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the statement, saying he “deeply appreciates and fully reciprocates” the US President’s sentiments.
A potential Xi-Trump meeting in South Korea would mark a significant diplomatic moment amid heightened trade disputes and geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.
