US President Donald Trump is weighing a visit to South Korea next month, where he may hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. Though plans remain unconfirmed, senior administration officials have described the potential talks as pivotal, particularly for trade and security relations at a time of heightened tension between Washington and Beijing. According to CNN, the White House is actively considering the meeting but has not yet finalised the details.
Trump’s possible meeting with Xi comes as the two leaders balance rivalry with attempts at dialogue. In a phone call last month, Xi invited Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to visit China, while Trump reciprocated with an invitation of his own, though neither side has set dates. Officials said Trump’s trip to South Korea could also serve as a platform for advancing US economic interests, mirroring themes from his previous visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. Trade, defence, and civil nuclear cooperation are expected to be central to discussions during the summit.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung formally extended the invitation for Trump to attend APEC during their recent meeting. Beyond China, the gathering could provide an opening for Trump to reconnect with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though Kim’s attendance remains uncertain. Trump has indicated he is open to another meeting with Kim if circumstances permit.
The timing of the visit is delicate. Just last week, Xi hosted Kim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a military parade and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. Trump lashed out on social media, posting a photo of the three leaders with the caption: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” In another post, he sarcastically offered “warmest regards” to Xi, Putin, and Kim “as you conspire against the United States.”
Despite his critical tone, Trump later shifted to praise, calling the parade a “beautiful ceremony” and “very impressive,” while stressing in remarks from the Oval Office that his personal relationships with Xi, Putin, Modi, and Kim remain “very good.” He added that the true test of those ties would come “over the next week or two.” Trump has also softened his stance on India, affirming his friendship with Modi and saying bilateral relations remain strong.
A meeting with Xi would take place against the backdrop of Trump’s escalating trade war with China. Earlier this year, the US imposed tariffs of up to 145 per cent on Chinese imports, sparking retaliation from Beijing with duties of 125 per cent on American goods. Though those increases were scheduled to take effect last month, Trump issued an executive order delaying them until November to keep the door open for negotiations. The upcoming APEC summit could therefore serve as a critical stage for testing whether the two powers can ease economic tensions while addressing wider regional security challenges.
