Trump aims to meet with China's Xi Jinping during Asia tour

• US President Donald Trump is set for a major Asia trip this week.
• The tour includes Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.
• A potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is a key focus.
• Trump hopes to reach a deal with Xi and influence Russia on Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump is preparing for a high-profile trip to Asia this week, with the spotlight on a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that could have far-reaching implications for the global economy.

Trump announced on Wednesday that he will visit Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, marking his first trip to the region since returning to the White House amid a backdrop of tariffs and geopolitical tensions.

Much of the trip remains uncertain. The White House has provided few details, and Trump has cautioned that his anticipated meeting with Xi in South Korea may not occur amid ongoing frictions.

“I hope to make a deal with Xi on everything,” Trump said, adding that he hopes the Chinese leader can exert a “big influence” on persuading Russia’s Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

The president is expected to begin his tour in Malaysia from October 26-28 for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which he skipped several times during his first term. He is slated to finalize a trade agreement with Malaysia and oversee a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia, continuing his bid for a Nobel Peace Prize.

“President Trump is keen to see the more positive results of the peace negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said. Trump may also meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the summit to repair strained bilateral ties.

Next, Trump is expected to travel to Tokyo, where he may meet Japan’s newly appointed first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi. Japan has largely avoided the brunt of Trump’s previous tariffs, but he aims to convince Tokyo to halt Russian energy imports and increase defense spending in line with Western allies.

The trip’s climax is anticipated in South Korea, where Trump will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on October 29 and potentially meet Xi Jinping. This would be the first meeting between the two leaders since Trump’s return to office. Analysts caution that expectations should be tempered.

“The meeting will be a data point along an existing continuum rather than an inflection point in the relationship,” said Ryan Hass, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

South Korea, seeking favorable trade terms, may award Trump the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the nation’s highest honor. North Korea is also expected to be on the agenda, following multiple ballistic missile tests earlier this week. Trump has previously met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though a new meeting has not been confirmed.