DID Press: US President Donald Trump is embarking on a multilateral tour of Asia this week, with the potential highlight being a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea. The trip includes stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, aiming to strengthen economic ties, monitor peace efforts between Thailand and Cambodia, and address regional security issues.
On his first trip to East Asia since returning to the White House, Trump seeks to discuss economic and security relations with regional countries. His first stop is Malaysia, where he will attend the ASEAN summit and oversee the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. Trade agreements are also expected to be signed during the summit.
After Malaysia, Trump will travel to Japan to meet the country’s new prime minister, urging Tokyo to halt energy imports from Russia and increase its defense budget.
The trip’s climax is the APEC summit in Seoul, where a meeting with Xi Jinping is planned. This would mark the first encounter between the two leaders since the start of Trump’s second presidential term and could influence efforts to reduce U.S.-China trade tensions.
Trump has also voiced concerns over China’s restrictions on rare earth exports and threatened new tariffs.
North Korea and broader regional issues are also on the agenda. Trump hopes to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, although no official confirmation has been released.
Meanwhile, South Korea is expected to award Trump the Mugunghwa Medal, the country’s highest national honor, underscoring the diplomatic significance of the visit.