Overview

• Multiple sources point to the APEC summit in Gyeongju (October 30–November 1) as this year’s most viable chance for an in-person meeting between the two leaders.
• Xi Jinping has confirmed he will attend the South Korea summit, while President Trump’s participation remains unconfirmed.
• Sources say Trump could either visit China ahead of the summit or meet Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC event.
• Recent high-level contacts, including the first face-to-face talks between Wang Yi and Marco Rubio and reciprocal invitations exchanged in a June phone call, have paved the way for a presidential encounter.
• The push for face-to-face talks follows months of record tariffs and selective trade exemptions aimed at easing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.