Overview

• Chinese President Xi Jinping has confirmed his attendance at the APEC summit in Gyeongju scheduled for late October to early November.
• U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether he will attend the summit, according to information from Lee’s office.
• President Lee Jae Myung has received an invitation to China’s 80th World War II victory military parade in September and remains undecided on his participation.
• China has approached Seoul about Lee’s potential attendance at the Beijing parade, recalling former President Park Geun-hye’s participation in 2015 despite U.S. objections.
• Seoul’s efforts to secure high-level attendance at APEC and manage ceremonial invitations underscore its attempt to balance ties with both Washington and Beijing.