Lee Jae-myung Praises Xi Jinping as 'Tough Negotiator,' Sees Potential for Cooperation
Trump and Xi Meet in Busan After 6-Year Hiatus: APEC Summit Leads to Korean Peninsula Encounter
A face-to-face meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place on October 30, 2025, marking their first encounter in 6 years and 4 months since the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan in June 2019. The summit was held at Naraemaru, a ceremonial reception facility within the Air Force base at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, coinciding with their attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. APEC is scheduled to be held at the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju from October 31st to November 1st.
President Trump arrived at Gimhae Airport at 11:00 AM, 45 minutes before the meeting, after taking Marine One from Gyeongju at approximately 9:43 AM. President Xi Jinping arrived at the meeting venue 5 minutes before the start. President Trump wore a red tie, while President Xi Jinping wore a navy tie. Leaders of APEC member countries began gathering in Gyeongju on October 30th. President Lee Jae-myung hosted a special dinner for the leaders at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Gyeongju on October 29th.
It has been reported that there were negotiations between the U.S. and China in the process of determining the location and time of the summit. Initially, the summit was scheduled for the afternoon of October 30th. The U.S. side proposed '10:00 AM' to the Chinese side, citing President Trump's earlier departure time. The Chinese side insisted on proceeding as scheduled in the afternoon, but when the U.S. stance remained firm, they counter-proposed 11:00 AM, and the meeting was ultimately held at 11:00 AM. Until the evening before the summit, the U.S. White House and the Chinese Foreign Ministry were reportedly in disarray, each announcing Gyeongju and Busan, respectively, as the meeting venue.
President Trump disembarked from his helicopter, Marine One, and traveled in his limousine, 'The Beast.' President Xi Jinping arrived at the meeting venue in his domestically produced limousine, 'Hongqi.' Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump departed without attending the APEC summit, while Chinese President Xi Jinping stayed for a state visit.
Analysts suggest that this summit could be a significant turning point in the international political landscape surrounding the Korean Peninsula. In particular, with the U.S.'s Indo-Pacific strategy and China's Belt and Road Initiative clashing, attention is focused on what results the meeting between the two leaders will bring. Furthermore, there is interest in what joint position the two countries will express regarding North Korea's nuclear issue. Experts predict that the summit could usher in a new phase for the Korean Peninsula peace process. However, it is also pointed out that premature optimism should be avoided, as the fundamental conflicts between the U.S. and China have not been resolved. The two leaders are expected to hold in-depth discussions on various fields, including the economy, security, and climate change.
Although the summit was held in Busan, the APEC summit itself will be held in Gyeongju. APEC is a cooperative body aimed at economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, and it promotes trade liberalization, investment expansion, and economic and technological cooperation among member countries. Leaders of member countries will attend the APEC summit in Gyeongju to discuss regional economic issues and explore cooperation measures. They are also expected to discuss joint responses to new challenges such as the digital economy, climate change, and health. APEC leaders are expected to present a vision for sustainable growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region through this meeting.
The meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping is expected to have a significant impact not only on the situation on the Korean Peninsula but also on the international community as a whole. In particular, since U.S.-China relations have a major impact on the global economy and security, global attention is focused on the content of the dialogue and agreements between the two leaders. It remains to be seen whether U.S.-China relations will stabilize and the Korean Peninsula peace process will advance as a result of this summit.
