US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday held a bilateral meeting ahead of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Busan, South Korea. This was their first in-person conversation after Trump returned to the White House.
The two leaders greeted each other with a handshake on a red carpet decorated with the flags of the US and China and then began talks focusing on trade and economic ties. Trump described Xi as a “very tough negotiator” and indicated that their talks would focus on long-standing economic disputes.
The meeting came a day before the 2025 APEC summit, which is scheduled to be held in Gyeongju from October 31 to November 1. Global attention is on whether Washington and Beijing can ease the strain that has strained bilateral relations in recent months.
Officials from both countries said the talks provided an opportunity to stabilize relations amid ongoing trade tensions. Trump’s tariff measures and China’s restrictions on rare earth exports have stoked global economic uncertainty, prompting both sides to seek common ground.
Ahead of the meeting, US officials indicated that Trump was unlikely to follow through on his earlier warning of imposing 100 percent import tariffs on Chinese goods. Meanwhile, Beijing has reportedly expressed willingness to ease restrictions on rare earth exports and resume soybean imports from the US.
While visiting South Korea on Air Force One, Trump told reporters he was considering reducing tariffs related to China’s role in fentanyl production.
“I hope the tariffs will be reduced because I believe they will help us with the fentanyl issue,” he said.
He further said, “Our relations with China are very good.”
Ahead of the talks, Trump posted on Truth Social, referring to the meeting as the “C2”, highlighting the economic strength of the United States and China compared to other blocs such as the G7 and G20.
According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, “On the morning of October 30, local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in South Korea by special plane to attend the 32nd APEC informal leaders’ meeting and pay a state visit to South Korea at the invitation of President Lee Jae Myung.”
Trump attracted attention by announcing just hours before his meeting with Xi Jinping that he had directed the War Department to resume testing US nuclear weapons.
In a post on social media, Trump wrote, “The United States of America has more nuclear weapons than any other country. This was made possible only during my first term, including a complete update and renewal of existing weapons. Because of its enormous destructive power, I hated to do this, but I had no choice. Russia is in second place and China is a distant third, but will catch up within the next 5 years. Because of the testing programs of other countries, I directed the War Department He wants to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. This process will start immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
The announcement came shortly before his high-level bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping in Busan, where trade tensions and regional security concerns were expected to be discussed.
