US President Donald Trump and his senior advisors are preparing for a visit to South Korea in October for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Officials told CNN that a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is being discussed, but no final decision has been made yet.
According to CNN, US President Donald Trump and his top advisors are preparing for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, scheduled between late October and early November. The event is seen as a key chance for Trump to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Officials told CNN that while there have been serious talks about a bilateral meeting on the sidelines, no final plan has been confirmed yet.
CNN reported that during a phone call last month, Chinese President Xi invited Donald Trump and his wife to visit China. Trump accepted the invitation, but no dates have been set. While plans are still being worked out, it’s not clear if Trump will include other stops on the trip. Officials also said the visit is being seen as a chance to attract more economic investments to the US.
“A visit to South Korea is being discussed, which would focus on economic collaboration,” a White House official told CNN. Other goals include a focus on discussions around trade, defence and civil nuclear cooperation, the official said.
Trump’s visit could also put him in a position to sit down once again with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, however whether Kim attends is still a question. CNN reported that the officials say more attention is being placed on organising a potential meeting with Xi.
During the visit of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung last week, he had invited Trump to attend the APEC summit and suggested that the setting could provide the US President with an opportunity to meet with Kim, sources familiar with the talks told CNN.
While addressing reporters earlier in the day, Trump told Lee he was willing to meet with Kim. “I will do that, and we’ll have talks. He’d like to meet with me,” Trump claimed of the North Korean leader.
“We look forward to meeting with him, and we’ll make relations better.” The expected trip of Donald Trump to South Korea thus comes at a tenuous time in his relationship with both Xi and Kim. While feathers were ruffled in Washington over the recently concluded SCO Summit in Tianjin earlier this month, where Xi Jinping had hosted Kim Jong Un, Russian President Vladimir Putin and PM Narendra Modi, Trump was quick to criticise the meetings.
“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” Trump wrote on social media as the parade was underway. On Friday, Trump shared a photo of Xi, Putin and Modi, writing: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
However, on Friday (US local time), Trump expressed optimism towards India. Calling India-US ties a “very special relationship”, United States President Donald Trump affirmed that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would always be friends, asserting that there is “nothing to worry about”.
The gesture was taken with good spirits in New Delhi as Prime Minister Modi, on Saturday, responded warmly to US President Donald Trump’s affirmation of the India-US ties, saying he “deeply appreciates and fully reciprocates” the US President’s sentiments and positive assessment of the bilateral relations. A potential meeting with his Chinese counterpart would come at a time when Washington and Beijing have been repeatedly engaged over Trump’s tariffs.
(With inputs from ANI)
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