President Donald Trump is set to embark on a significant journey to Asia, marking his first visit to the region since resuming office.
This trip holds considerable weight, with the potential to influence global trade dynamics and test the United States' diplomatic relations with China. The itinerary includes strategic stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.
As reported by Straight Arrow News, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump is scheduled to engage in a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in South Korea. This meeting will occur on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.
"On Thursday morning local time, President Trump will participate in a bilateral meeting with President Xi of the Peoples Republic of China before departing to return home to Washington, D.C.," Leavitt stated.
This diplomatic mission follows President Trump's announcement of a new 100% tariff on Chinese imports, amidst escalating tensions over rare earth minerals and magnets, as well as China's involvement in fentanyl exports. The upcoming meeting between the two leaders will be their third, following previous encounters in 2017 at Mar-a-Lago and in Japan two years later.
President Trump's journey begins in Malaysia, where he will engage in discussions with the Malaysian prime minister and attend the ASEAN leaders' working dinner. Subsequently, he will travel to Japan for a meeting with the newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The final leg of the trip will take him to Busan, South Korea, for a bilateral meeting with President Lee Jae Myung. The anticipated meeting with Xi Jinping will conclude Trump's Asian tour before he returns to Washington.
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