US President Donald Trump begins Asia trip for high-stakes trade talks with Xi Jinping and potential meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
JOINT BASE ANDREWS: US President Donald Trump departed on Friday for Asia and crucial trade negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump revealed he would also like to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his regional tour.
The American president will meet Xi in South Korea on the final day of his trip to potentially finalise a deal ending the trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
His itinerary includes visits to Malaysia and Japan marking his first Asian tour since returning to the White House in January.
A senior US official confirmed Trump would sign multiple economic agreements across this economically dynamic region.
Trump fuelled speculation about meeting Kim Jong Un for the first time since 2019 by telling reporters at the White House about the possibility.
Seoul’s reunification minister had earlier stated there was a considerable chance of such a meeting occurring during Trump’s South Korea visit.
The White House had previously indicated a meeting with Kim was not scheduled.
Trump’s first destination will be Malaysia where he arrives on Sunday for the ASEAN summit.
He will oversee a peace accord signing between Thailand and Cambodia while continuing his Nobel Peace Prize pursuit.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva might also meet Trump during the summit to mend bilateral relations.
The American leader proceeds to Tokyo on Monday for meetings with Japan’s first female prime minister Sanae Takaichi.
Japan avoided the severe tariffs Trump imposed globally to address what he calls unfair trade practices.
South Korea represents the trip’s highlight with Trump arriving in Busan on Wednesday for APEC summit events.
He will meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and address business leaders during the economic forum.
Trump and Xi will hold their first meeting since Trump’s return to office on Thursday.
Global markets anxiously await whether both leaders can resolve the trade war sparked by Trump’s tariffs.
The president initially threatened to cancel the Xi meeting over rare earth disputes before confirming his attendance.
A senior US official stated Trump primarily wants to discuss trade and economic relations with China.
Trump himself identified fentanyl as the first discussion topic while pressuring Beijing on drug trafficking. – AFP
