US President Donald Trump and his senior advisers are quietly organizing a trip to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, scheduled for late October to early November, according to a CNN report citing Trump administration officials. The visit is seen as a prime opportunity for a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though no concrete plans have been finalized. Discussions for a bilateral meeting on the summit’s sidelines are ongoing, the officials noted.
The APEC summit, a key gathering of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region, aligns with Trump’s focus on securing economic investments for the US, a priority evident in his recent trips to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. A White House official told CNN that the South Korea visit would emphasize economic collaboration, alongside talks on trade, defense, and civil nuclear cooperation.
The trip could also position Trump for a possible meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though Kim’s attendance remains uncertain. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, during a recent meeting with Trump, suggested the APEC summit could facilitate such an encounter. Trump expressed openness to meeting Kim, stating to reporters, “I will do that, and we’ll have talks. He’d like to meet with me,” adding that he aims to improve relations.
The potential Xi meeting comes amid ongoing US-China trade tensions, with negotiations including two in-person meetings in Europe to address Trump’s tariffs. Last month, Xi invited Trump and his wife to visit China, an invitation Trump reciprocated, though no dates were set. Trump’s trip follows his criticism of Xi’s recent meetings with Kim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, where he accused them of conspiring against the US, per CNN. The South Korea visit occurs at a delicate moment in Trump’s relations with both Xi and Kim.
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