Trump Confirms Xi Jinping Meeting in Asia

Picture Credit: Al Jazeera

The White House confirmed Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week during a trip to Asia, despite a recent escalation in trade tensions. The meeting, the first of Trump's second term, is scheduled for next Thursday in South Korea following the APEC CEO Summit.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt detailed the president's itinerary, stating Trump departs for Malaysia late Friday. His diplomatic tour includes meetings with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday, Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Tuesday, and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Busan on Wednesday.

The confirmation follows a spike in the U.S.-China trade war after Beijing expanded curbs on rare earth mineral exports in early October. While Trump initially threatened retaliatory tariffs, he expressed optimism on Thursday, stating, "I think we're going to come out very well, and everyone's going to be very happy." His comments contrasted with more strident remarks from his top trade negotiators.

Despite the focus on trade, Trump stated his first question to the Chinese leader would be about fentanyl. "I'm putting it right at the front of the list," he said. Washington accuses Beijing of failing to stop the flow of precursor chemicals for the deadly opioid, a claim Beijing denies. The White House has previously used the fentanyl flow as justification for increasing tariffs on Chinese goods.