Trump Embarks on High-Stakes Asia Tour for Trade Talks with Xi, Possible Meeting with Kim Jong Un
Adelekereporter online News reports that United States President Donald Trump has departed Washington for a strategic trip to Asia, where he is expected to hold crucial trade talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and possibly meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The multi-nation tour, which will take Trump through Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, marks his first visit to the region since returning to the White House in January. The trip is expected to focus heavily on trade negotiations and regional diplomacy
Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump said he looked forward to a “very good meeting” with Xi, expressing optimism that China would agree to new trade terms to prevent fresh 100 percent tariffs scheduled to take effect on November 1.
“I think China wants to make a deal. We’ve had tough negotiations, but I expect a very good meeting with President Xi,” Trump told reporters.
Trump also hinted at the possibility of meeting Kim Jong Un during his time on the Korean Peninsula — their first encounter since the 2019 Hanoi summit. “I would. If you want to put out the word, I’m open to it,” he said, describing his past relationship with Kim as “great.”
When asked if he recognized North Korea as a nuclear power, Trump remarked, “Well, I think they are sort of a nuclear power… They got a lot of nuclear weapons, I’ll say that.”
The U.S. president’s itinerary includes participation in the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, where he is expected to sign a bilateral trade agreement and witness the signing of a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia. Trump will also hold talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the summit.
From Malaysia, Trump will travel to Tokyo to meet Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, whom he praised as “a strong leader and a protégé of Shinzo Abe.”
The highlight of Trump’s trip will be in South Korea, where he is expected to meet President Lee Jae Myung ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. The two leaders will discuss trade, regional security, and U.S.-Korea relations.
Trump’s anticipated meeting with Xi on Thursday will be closely watched by global markets amid tensions over tariffs and Beijing’s restrictions on rare-earth exports. Analysts say the outcome could reshape trade dynamics between the world’s two largest economies.
The White House confirmed that Trump will also raise the issue of fentanyl trafficking with Xi, as part of U.S. efforts to combat the spread of synthetic opioids.
