US President Donald Trump and his senior advisors are making quiet preparations to visit South Korea in October for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, with talks underway for a possible bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though no final decision has been made, CNN reported on Saturday, citing administration officials.
As per the report by CNN, the US President and his top advisors are preparing for the gathering of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers, three Trump administration officials told CNN.
The summit, which would take place in Gyeongju between late October and early November, is being viewed as a key opportunity for Trump to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, CNN reported.
The proposed talks are being viewed as potentially pivotal for the future of trade and security ties between Washington and Beijing.
In a phone call last month, Xi Jinping extended an invitation to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to visit China. Trump, in turn, invited Xi to the United States, though no dates have yet been confirmed for either visit.
According to officials, Trump’s trip to South Korea could also serve as an opportunity to court fresh economic investments into the United States — a consistent theme of his international travel, which has previously included high-profile visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Alongside investment, discussions are expected to cover a broad agenda spanning trade, defence cooperation, and civil nuclear partnerships.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung extended a formal invitation for Trump to attend the APEC summit during a recent meeting.
