China has confirmed that President Xi Jinping and United States President Donald Trump will hold “in-depth” discussions on Thursday, focusing on major issues shaping the relationship between both nations.
The announcement comes as anticipation grows for their highly anticipated meeting in South Korea.
According to Chinese officials, the face-to-face talks will take place in Busan, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit currently being held in Gyeongju. This marks the first direct meeting between the two leaders since Trump began his second term in office.
Trump has said he expects the talks to lead to the United States reducing the tariffs imposed on China in connection with fentanyl-related trade disputes.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, “During this meeting, the two leaders will have in-depth communication on strategic and long-term issues concerning China-US relations, as well as major issues of mutual concern.”
Guo added that Beijing is eager to ensure the meeting delivers meaningful results, stating, “We are willing to work together with the US side to ensure that this meeting yields positive outcomes, provides new guidance, and injects new momentum into the stable development of China-US relations.”
The two nations have experienced a rocky relationship in recent years, dominated by tensions over trade, technology, and global influence. Trump has previously expressed optimism that the meeting with Xi could pave the way for easing their prolonged trade dispute, which has seen both sides impose billions of dollars in tariffs.
“We expect a lot of problems to be solved,” Trump said, hinting that the upcoming talks could mark a turning point in restoring economic balance and strengthening diplomatic ties between the two powers.
What you should know
The meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump in Busan could be pivotal in shaping the next phase of China-US relations.
As the world’s two largest economies, their discussions on trade, fentanyl control, and global stability carry significant weight for international markets and diplomatic cooperation.
