The BRICS TimesDonald Trump along with senior aides is reportedly making plans to visit Gyeongju, South Korea, to attend the upcoming APEC summit of trade ministers.
United States President Donald Trump may hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month in South Korea during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
As reported by CNN, Trump and his close advisers are discreetly arranging travel plans to Gyeongju, where APEC trade ministers are scheduled to gather. The development comes shortly after the Republican leader expressed anger over Xi’s engagements with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin, China, last week.
Officials familiar with the matter revealed that serious conversations have taken place regarding a potential bilateral meeting between Trump and Xi on the sidelines of APEC, although no definitive schedule has been confirmed. During a phone call last month, Xi extended an invitation to Trump and the First Lady to visit China. Trump, in return, invited the Chinese leader to the United States, but neither side has announced dates for such visits.
“A visit to South Korea is being discussed, which would focus on economic collaboration. Other goals include a focus on discussions around trade, defence and civil nuclear cooperation,” a White House official told CNN.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung recently met Trump and invited him to take part in the APEC summit. There is also speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could attend the gathering.
The prospect of Trump meeting Xi comes at a time when Washington and Beijing have been sparring over US-imposed tariffs, with China remaining a central target of Trump’s trade agenda. In recent weeks, the former president has also accused Beijing of aligning with Russia and North Korea against American interests.
Last week in China, Xi Jinping hosted several global leaders separately, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. Modi joined the SCO Summit in Tianjin, Kim attended a military parade in Beijing, while Putin was present at both events.
Trump was quick to criticise the display of closeness among these leaders, claiming that Washington had lost India and Russia to what he described as “deepest, darkest China.” He further alleged that Xi, Putin, and Kim were collaborating against the United States.
“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 while China’s military parade was in progress.
On Friday, he again took to social media to post a picture of Xi, Putin, and Modi together, commenting: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to the deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
However, Trump later softened his stance and clarified that his relationship with Prime Minister Modi remains strong, stressing that the two leaders are “very well” connected and would “always” share friendship.
