The White House announced that U.S. President Donald Trump will sit down with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the upcoming Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The two leaders, who head the world’s top two economies, are expected to use the session to address the ongoing trade conflict that has intensified in recent weeks.
In a briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the scheduled encounter.
“I think we are going to come out very well and everyone’s going to be very happy,” Trump said, adding, “We have a pretty long meeting scheduled.
We can work out a lot of our doubts and questions and our tremendous assets together.”
He also remarked: “I think something will work out. We have a very good relationship, but that will be a big one.”
The planned talks come after Trump announced a new round of 100 % tariffs on Chinese goods, set to take effect November 1, citing Beijing’s recent export controls on critical rare‑earth materials.
China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao voiced confidence that the dialogue could yield results, stating, “It is entirely possible to find solutions to each other’s concerns” and “promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China‑U.S. economic and trade relations.”
This will be the first in‑person meeting between the two presidents since Trump returned to the Oval Office; their previous face‑to‑face encounter dates back to 2019 during Trump’s first term.
While both leaders have spoken on the phone several times this year, the APEC sideline session marks a renewed effort at personal diplomacy.
In addition to the Xi meeting, Trump’s Asian itinerary will include stops in Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan, where he will engage with the respective leaders on regional and bilateral issues.
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