Trump reaffirms he will meet Xi in S. Korea in 'couple of weeks'

▲ U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 16, 2025, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)

Trump-Xi-meeting

Trump reaffirms he will meet Xi in S. Korea in 'couple of weeks'

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will have a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea "in a couple of weeks," as Korea is set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit slated to begin late this month.

In a Fox Business interview broadcast Friday, Trump said he and Xi have a "separate" meeting "set up," as trade tensions between the two superpowers have heightened following Beijing's move to tighten export controls on rare earths -- essential components for the production of various military and commercial products.

"We are going to meet in a couple of weeks. We are going to meet in South Korea, actually," he said. "President Xi and other people, too. But we are going to meet. We have (a) separate meeting set up."

Last Friday, Trump threatened to call off the planned meeting with Xi, criticizing China's export control move. He also announced plans to impose an additional 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods, starting Nov. 1, and implement export controls on all critical software on the same day.

During the interview, he softened his tone on his tariff plan against China.

"It's not sustainable, but that's what the number is," he said. "It's probably not ... it could stand, but they forced me to do that. I think we are going to be fine with China.

Trump also praised Xi, saying his life is an "amazing story."

"I get along great with him, He's a very strong leader ... amazing man," he said.

He added that the United States has to have a "fair deal" with China, repeating his accusation that China has "ripped off" America.

Diplomatic sources in Seoul said that both Trump and Xi are likely to pay state visits to South Korea on the occasion of the APEC summit, which is set to take place in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Trump is expected to make a two-day trip starting Oct. 29, during which he is expected to have summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung.

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved