For the first time in six years, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met face-to-face on Thursday, October 30, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in South Korea, marking a significant moment in efforts to mend strained U.S.-China relations. The high-profile meeting, held at the Gimhae International Airport in Busan, aimed to reduce months of trade tensions and restore stability between the world’s two largest economies.
Speaking briefly to reporters before the talks, Trump described his relationship with Xi as “great,” adding, “We know each other very well, we have a great relationship. We are going to have a very successful meeting. Good to see him again. We could sign a trade deal today.” He also acknowledged Xi’s negotiating skills, remarking, “He is a very tough negotiator—that is not good—but we know each other well.”
The meeting, attended by senior officials from both nations, took place in a modestly decorated conference room featuring white and blue floral arrangements and the national flags of the U.S. and China. The two leaders last held a one-on-one meeting in 2019 at the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, during Trump’s first term in office.
