Lee Jae-myung Lavishes Praise on Xi Jinping: "Great Nation, Great Leader"
Trump Lavishes Praise on Xi Jinping: "Great Nation, Great Leader"
U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hailed him as a "great leader of a great nation," signaling a potential new chapter in relations between the two countries. Trump's remarks are seen as reaffirming the strong U.S.-Korea alliance while also indicating a willingness to seek a constructive relationship with China. The meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping took place on October 30, 2025, at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, marking their first summit in 6 years and 4 months since the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in June 2019. Notably, the meeting was part of Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to South Korea, highlighting the importance of the relationship between the two countries. Trump's positive assessment raises the question of whether it could be a positive signal for the two countries' relations, which have been somewhat strained due to trade disputes and the COVID-19 pandemic. Xi Jinping's visit to South Korea is his first since July 2014, when he visited under the Park Geun-hye administration, making the resumption of his long-delayed visit significant.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Gimhae International Airport on October 30, 2025, commencing his three-day state visit to South Korea. The visit is expected to be an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation in various fields such as economy, culture, and security, going beyond mere diplomatic exchanges between the two countries. During his visit, Xi Jinping will attend the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Informal Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, where he will discuss economic cooperation measures with leaders of major countries. In particular, as this APEC summit is the first face-to-face meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic, it is expected to be an important forum for consolidating each country's commitment to global economic recovery. Xi Jinping's visit is also expected to reaffirm China's active support for the Korean Peninsula peace process. China has played a constructive role in resolving Korean Peninsula issues, and it is expected that this visit will provide an opportunity to explore multilateral cooperation measures to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Analysts suggest that the meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping could be a crucial turning point in the future of relations between the two countries. While the United States and China have experienced conflicts in various areas such as trade, technology, and human rights, it is hoped that this summit will enhance mutual understanding and explore areas of cooperation. In particular, Trump's remark about a "great nation, great leader" can be interpreted as an expression of respect and a willingness to cooperate with China, which is expected to have a positive impact on improving future relations. However, it is difficult to conclude that all problems will be resolved through this meeting, as fundamental conflicts between the US and China still exist. Nevertheless, the very fact that the leaders of the two countries met has opened up the possibility of improving relations, which deserves positive evaluation. The future direction of the two countries' relations will depend on what kind of China policy the Trump administration will pursue and how China will respond to it.
During his three-day visit to South Korea, Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to undertake various activities. In particular, he is scheduled to hold a summit with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on November 1, where they are expected to discuss ways to develop bilateral relations and the Korean Peninsula peace process. The meeting between Lee Jae-myung and Xi Jinping is expected to be an important opportunity to set the future of South Korea-China relations. The two countries are expected to strengthen cooperation in various fields such as economy, culture, and security, and strive to promote mutual understanding. In particular, cooperation between the two countries on the Korean Peninsula peace process is expected to have a positive impact on resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and stabilizing the Korean Peninsula. However, maintaining a balance between the South Korea-US alliance and US-China relations remains an important task for South Korean diplomacy, and attention is focused on what kind of diplomatic strategy the Lee Jae-myung administration will pursue. Xi Jinping's visit is of great significance not only for South Korea-China relations but also for the stability of Northeast Asia.
Trump's praise for Xi Jinping is also generating diverse reactions within the United States. While some criticize Trump's remarks as excessive appeasement towards China, others argue that it is an inevitable choice for pragmatic diplomacy. The Trump administration has maintained a hard-line stance toward China, advocating "America First," but recently, it has been showing signs of trying to resolve issues through dialogue and cooperation. This change can be interpreted as a strategic judgment that prioritizes US national interests. However, criticism of China's human rights issues and unfair trade practices is still strong within the United States, and attention is focused on what position the Trump administration will take on these issues. Trump's remarks may be a signal of a change in US foreign policy, and the international community is paying close attention to what kind of China policy the United States will pursue in the future.
