Trump and Xi Might Meet in South Korea: APEC Summit Sparks Global Interest

The upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea offers President Lee Jae Myung’s administration a crucial opportunity to showcase its pragmatic diplomacy on the global stage. World leaders will convene to discuss trade and other shared challenges amid rising protectionism and potential U.S. tariffs.

Set for October 31 and November 1 in the southern city of Gyeongju, this multilateral gathering is drawing increased attention, particularly due to expectations that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping may attend.

Their presence, if confirmed, could provide Lee with the chance to hold bilateral meetings with both leaders on the sidelines. These discussions could cover pressing bilateral issues and shared concerns, including North Korea, in addition to separate meetings with other APEC member leaders.

The summit is expected to attract approximately 20,000 participants from around the world, including about 3,500 government delegates from the 21 APEC member economies.

Since taking office on June 4, the Lee administration has intensified efforts to ensure thorough preparations for the summit. They’ve established a dedicated task force and placed Prime Minister Kim Min-seok at the helm of the planning process for the remaining 100 days.

The Lee Jae Myung administration considers the successful hosting of the APEC summit a top priority, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated at a recent press briefing.

\”We will continue to make every effort to host the APEC summit at the highest level and create an environment conducive to innovative economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region,\” she added.

South Korea has extended official invitations to all APEC members, including Russia and Taiwan. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not attended APEC summits since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, sending Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk to last year’s summit in Peru instead.

Xi is widely expected to attend the summit as Seoul and Beijing work to maintain stable bilateral relations, aligning with Lee’s foreign policy approach.

During a meeting with South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik in Beijing this February, Xi indicated he was seriously considering attending the summit in Gyeongju. China is also slated to host next year’s APEC summit.

Trump’s attendance also seems likely. Joseph Yun, the acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea, stated during a March forum that he believes Trump will attend barring any special circumstances.

If realized, this would mark Trump’s first visit to South Korea in 5 years and Xi’s first in 11 years.

This year’s APEC summit will be held under the banner \”Building a Sustainable Tomorrow,\” focusing on three pillars: connect, innovate, and prosper. According to the APEC task force, these themes reflect APEC’s commitment to developing policies that support a resilient and inclusive future.

\”The themes are closely tied to APEC’s traditional focus on economic integration and free trade,\” Yoon Seong-mee, chair of the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting, stated in a recent press conference.

\”The spread of protectionism and fragmented supply chains are weakening free trade and investment. In response, we need to continue discussing ways to strengthen the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core,\” Yoon emphasized.

The summit aims to promote digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region by addressing the digital divide, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and its fundamental impact on economies and people’s lives.

South Korea plans to propose discussions on how APEC members can collaborate to ensure the safe and inclusive use of AI.

The summit will also address shared challenges such as energy security, food security, and demographic changes.

Notably, South Korea will bring attention to the issues of declining birthrates and aging populations – topics that have not traditionally been central to APEC discussions. Yoon pointed out that these are already pressing concerns for many countries and challenges that others will inevitably face in the future.