APEC Summit To Host First Trump-Xi Talks in Over Six Years
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet in person with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month. It will be their first face-to-face encounter since 2019. The long-anticipated meeting is scheduled to take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the historic city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.
Although the format of the meeting has not been officially confirmed, it would end a six-year pause in direct diplomacy between the two countries. Whether held as a formal summit or as an informal discussion, the meeting is expected to carry significant political weight.
Trump announced the plans on Sept. 21 through his social media platform, Truth Social. He described a recent phone call with Xi as “very productive” and confirmed that both leaders had agreed to meet in Gyeongju. Trump also revealed that he intends to visit China early next year. Xi is expected to make a return visit to the United States at a later time.
The South Korean government welcomed the news. “Our government has continuously supported multilateral diplomatic dialogue between member countries on the occasion of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting,” the presidential office said in a statement. It also noted that Seoul is ready to provide full support for the gathering. The upcoming talks are likely to address several sources of tension between Washington and Beijing. These include ongoing trade disputes, export restrictions on advanced technologies, and China’s alignment with Russia during the war in Ukraine. Digital security concerns, including the future of platforms like TikTok, may also be on the agenda.
In preparation for the summit, South Korea is organizing separate bilateral meetings with both leaders, either before or after the main event. President Lee Jae-myung’s administration is coordinating closely with both governments, as travel schedules remain subject to change.
Some analysts believe North Korea might receive limited attention during the talks. “North Korea may not be center stage,” said Victor Cha, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “but even a moment of renewed focus could be pivotal for Seoul.”
Sean Jung R&D Division Director teen/1760591740/1613367592
1. Why is the meeting important for the relationship between the United States and China?
2. What platform did Trump use to announce the meeting?
3. What did Trump say about his recent conversation with Xi?
4. Who in South Korea welcomed the news about the meeting?
1. Who would you be most interested in meeting if you could attend a global summit like this?
2. Why do you think meetings between world leaders are important for the world today?
3. When would you feel nervous or excited to meet someone you only know from news or social media?
4. Where would you like to visit in South Korea if you could see the APEC summit city?
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet in person with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month. It will be their first face-to-face encounter since 2019. The long-anticipated meeting is scheduled to take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the historic city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.
