US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism about reaching a mutually beneficial trade agreement with China as he prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in South Korea.
Speaking to a room full of business leaders at the summit, Trump said he believed the US was “going to have a deal” with China and that it would be “a good deal for both.”
The highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Xi, scheduled for Thursday, comes amid ongoing discussions to ease trade tensions between the two largest economies in the world.
Trump also held talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who has been under pressure to finalise a pending trade deal with Washington. During his visit, Trump received a lavish welcome in Seoul, where President Lee awarded him the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the country’s highest honour, in recognition of his “contribution to peace on the Korean peninsula.”
Trump’s arrival in South Korea coincided with renewed tensions in the region, following North Korea’s latest missile tests. He acknowledged the development and expressed interest in meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though he later clarified that they could not “work out a timing.”
The meetings in Seoul are part of Trump’s wider diplomatic tour of Asia, as Washington continues to seek stronger economic ties and security cooperation across the region.
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