Trump's Asia Tour: High-Stakes Trade Negotiations with Xi and Potential Kim Jong Un Meeting

Trump is scheduled to meet Xi in South Korea at the conclusion of his regional tour. (File)

US President Donald Trump departed for Asia on Saturday to engage in critical trade negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while expressing interest in potentially meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his journey.

Trump and Xi are set to meet in South Korea on the final day of his Asian tour, aiming to reach an agreement that would end the ongoing trade war between the world's two largest economies.

The US President's itinerary includes visits to Malaysia and Japan, marking his first Asian trip since returning to the White House in January amid a flurry of tariff impositions and international negotiations.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump expressed hope for a "very good meeting" with Xi, noting his expectation that China would seek a deal to avoid additional 100 percent tariffs scheduled to take effect on November 1.

A US Treasury spokesperson informed AFP that US and Chinese officials in Malaysia had concluded a day of "very constructive" trade discussions, which are expected to continue on Sunday.

As he departed Washington, Trump fueled speculation about a possible meeting with Kim Jong Un, their first since 2019, during his time on the Korean peninsula.

"I'm open to it," Trump stated aboard the presidential aircraft. "I had a great relationship with him."

When questioned about North Korea's demand to be recognized as a nuclear state as a precondition for talks, Trump remarked: "Well, I think they are sort of a nuclear power... They got a lot of nuclear weapons, I'll say that."

The two leaders last encountered each other in the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas during Trump's first term. Kim has indicated willingness to meet with the US president if Washington abandons its demand for Pyongyang to relinquish its nuclear arsenal.

South Korea's reunification minister has suggested there is a "considerable" chance that Trump and Kim will meet during the US leader's visit to South Korea, primarily for a regional summit.

Trump's first destination is Malaysia, where he arrives Sunday for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit—an event he frequently skipped during his first term.

The US President plans to sign a trade agreement with Malaysia and witness the signing of a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia, continuing his pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump also anticipates meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the summit's sidelines to improve relations with the leftist leader following months of tension.

From Malaysia, Trump will travel to Tokyo, arriving Monday. On Tuesday, he will meet with Sanae Takaichi, recently named Japan's first female prime minister.

The US leader mentioned having "heard great things about her" and praised her connection to assassinated former premier Shinzo Abe, with whom Trump maintained close ties.

Japan has largely avoided the severe tariffs Trump has imposed on countries worldwide in his effort to address what he describes as unfair trade balances that are "ripping off the United States."

The trip's focal point is expected to be South Korea, with Trump scheduled to arrive in the southern port city of Busan on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Trump will meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, address an APEC lunch with business leaders, and dine with US technology executives on the summit's sidelines in the city of Gyeongju.

He will meet Xi on Thursday for their first encounter since Trump's return to office.

Global markets will closely monitor whether they can halt the trade war triggered by Trump's extensive tariffs, particularly following a recent dispute over Beijing's rare-earth restrictions.

Trump initially threatened to cancel the meeting and announced fresh 100 percent tariffs during that disagreement, before ultimately deciding to proceed.

He indicated that fentanyl would also be on the agenda with Xi, as he increases pressure on Beijing to curb trafficking of the potent opioid and intensifies efforts against Latin American drug cartels.