US President Trump Begins Asia Tour Amid Hopes for Trade Deal with China
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to embark on a high-profile tour of Asia this week, with his agenda centered around a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping — a development that could have far-reaching implications for the global economy, according to AFP.
Trump is expected to attend the ASEAN Summit from October 26–28, where he will oversee the signing of a trade agreement with Malaysia and a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia. The U.S. president may also hold talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during the summit.
Following his ASEAN engagements, Trump will travel to Japan to meet the country’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi. In Tokyo, he is likely to urge Japan to reduce its dependence on Russian energy imports and boost defense spending amid growing regional tensions.
The tour’s highlight will be Trump’s participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea on October 29. A possible meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is also being discussed.
Observers say Trump’s main objective is to secure a favorable trade deal with China and resolve ongoing U.S.-China trade disputes through direct talks with Xi Jinping. He is also expected to leverage Xi’s influence over Russian President Vladimir Putin to encourage progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.
However, the potential Trump-Xi meeting remains uncertain. Analysts caution against expecting major breakthroughs, describing the visit more as a symbolic effort to rebuild diplomatic ties. For South Korea, Trump’s presence represents an opportunity to enhance both economic and diplomatic relations with Washington.
