The US Treasury Secretary announced that both leaders will talk at the APEC summit, amid tensions over export controls.
United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the president Donald Trump will meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinpingthis Friday in South Korea, during the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC). The meeting will seek to channel the dialogue between the two powers, in the midst of growing trade disputes.
Bessent explained that the leaders “they are in frequent contact” and? The meeting in South Korea will be an opportunity to move towards a more constructive dialogue. “It would be a shame to waste their first in-person meeting during President Trump’s second term trying to overcome some problems, instead of moving toward a more constructive dialogue between the United States and China,” he said.
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In parallel, China confirmed that Vice Premier He Lifeng will lead a delegation to meet US officials in Kuala Lumpur between October 24 and 27.in a new round of talks aimed at defusing the confrontation between the two largest economies in the world.
Negotiations in Malaysia and a truce at stake
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce indicated that the meeting in the Malaysian capital will seek “discuss important matters” in bilateral ties. He, Beijing’s top trade negotiator and close collaborator of Xi Jinping, He held a call last week with Bessent to reduce tensions arising from recent control measures on rare earth exports and possible US retaliation.
Both meetings take place in a context of growing friction. The United States expanded technological restrictions and proposed new levies on Chinese shipswhile China responded with stricter controls on the export of critical materials.
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Path to dialogue or a new escalation
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce recently gathered foreign companies in Beijing to ensure that its measures “do not seek to restrict normal trade.” However, tensions could worsen if the trade truce that expires on November 10.
In this context, Trump plans an Asian tour that will include visits to Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. His meeting with Xi at APEC will be the first in person since his return to the White House and could mark a turning point in the bilateral relationship, which today moves between negotiation and conflict.
Source: Ambito
