Trump to Meet Xi Jinping at APEC in South Korea, Eyes China Visit for 2026
Trump says the meeting will occur during the APEC summit; Xi to visit the United States at an appropriate time, as talks cover trade, Ukraine, and TikTok.
President Donald Trump said Friday he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Oct. 31–Nov. 1, the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders during Trump’s second term in the White House. Trump also said he would travel to China in early 2026 and that Xi had agreed to come to the United States at an appropriate time. The discussions are expected to touch on a range of issues, including trade tensions, the war in Ukraine, and a potential agreement on the sale of TikTok.
Trump wrote on his True Social account that the call with Xi was a “very good” conversation and that both sides looked forward to meeting at the APEC summit. He said the two leaders would speak again by phone in the near term. In a separate statement, Chinese state media described the talks as pragmatic, positive, and constructive. The Foreign Ministry in Beijing said Xi urged Trump to avoid unilateral trade restrictions on China, and that Beijing hopes the administration will provide an open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies operating in the U.S. Regarding TikTok, the ministry said the Chinese government respects the company’s wishes and would welcome productive negotiations that comply with China’s laws and regulations while taking_into_account the interests of both sides.
The planned APEC meeting would be the first time Xi and Trump have met face to face since Trump returned to the White House for a second term. The conversation and the upcoming encounter come as the United States continues to calibrate its approach to China on a broad slate of issues, from tariffs and supply chains to data security and geopolitical rivalry. Friday’s call also underscored the potential for high-level engagement to influence both countries’ stance on global issues such as the Ukraine war and regional stability in the Asia-Pacific.
Officials cautioned that while the leaders have agreed to a meeting at the APEC summit, concrete outcomes remain uncertain and will depend on the course of negotiations in the coming months. The APEC gathering in South Korea, scheduled for late October, could set the tone for subsequent diplomacy, including Xi’s potential trip to the United States later in Trump’s term and Trump’s stated plans to visit China in 2026.
As the world watches, analysts say the optics of a high-level meeting between the two countries’ leaders could signal a renewed focus on managing competition with China without tipping into broader confrontation. The two governments have pressed forward with negotiations on multiple fronts, even as disputes over tariffs, market access, and technology controls persist. Observers note that success will likely hinge on a broader framework of cooperation on trade rules, investment protections, and rules-based economic competition, rather than a single deal addressing all concerns.
The notes from Friday’s discussions also highlight a broader strategy: use diplomacy at major multilateral forums to reset lines of communication and reduce the risk of miscalculation. While neither side has announced a comprehensive agreement, the willingness to meet at a high level signals that both governments view engagement as preferable to escalation, at least in the near term. In comments accompanying the halt-and-go rhythm of highs and lows in U.S.-China relations, officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of dialogue, even when substantive breakthroughs remain elusive.
The timeline remains fluid. Trump’s invitation to Xi to visit the United States “at an appropriate time” and Xi’s willingness to visit the United States in turn indicate a reciprocal approach to diplomacy that could help stabilize relations ahead of potential areas of cooperation. That said, substantial policy disagreements over trade, national security, and regulatory concerns will continue to shape the contours of any forthcoming negotiations. As the parties prepare for the APEC summit, the international community will be watching closely to see whether this engagement translates into tangible steps toward a more predictable and stable bilateral relationship.