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US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday as part of his first Asian trip since reentering the White House in January. The tour features significant trade negotiations with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with plans to meet in South Korea on the trip’s final day to work towards ending the ongoing trade conflict between the two largest economies.
Ahead of the journey, Trump hinted at a possible meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the Korean Peninsula, stating he was “open to it.” This would be their first encounter since 2019. The President is also scheduled to visit Japan, marking his first visit to Asia in his current term.
Upon arrival, Trump announced via social media that he intends to “sign the Peace Deal immediately,” referring to a ceasefire agreement he helped negotiate between Thailand and Cambodia during escalated tensions. He also plans to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the ASEAN summit to improve relations after recent disagreements.
During a refueling stop in Qatar, Trump held talks with Gulf leadership, a key mediator in the Gaza ceasefire deal he facilitated. After Malaysia, his itinerary includes Tokyo, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has expressed her commitment to strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance, emphasizing her focus on diplomatic and security priorities.
Japan has largely avoided the tariffs Trump imposed globally, which he claimed were necessary to correct trade imbalances detrimental to the U.S. economy. The trip’s highlight is expected to be the meeting with Xi in South Korea, scheduled in Busan on Wednesday, just before the APEC summit. This high-stakes meeting comes amid recent tensions over Beijing’s restrictions on rare-earth minerals.
Initially, Trump threatened to cancel the summit and impose additional tariffs amidst disputes, but he later confirmed he would proceed. South Korea’s reunification minister mentioned there’s a “considerable” chance that Trump and Kim will meet, recalling their previous encounter at the DMZ during Trump’s first term. Kim has indicated willingness to meet, provided the U.S. drops its demand for denuclearization of North Korea.
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