---
title: 'South Korea to Host APEC Summit, Trump-Xi Meeting Possible'
url: 'https://thediplomaticinsight.com/south-korea-to-host-apec-summit/'
author: 'Web Desk'
date: '2025-10-17T10:19:24+05:00'
categories:
  - 'Asia'
  - 'China'
  - 'East Asia'
  - 'Southeast Asia'
  - 'World'
---

# South Korea to Host APEC Summit, Trump-Xi Meeting Possible

**Seoul (TDI):** As global attention turns to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in South Korea on October 29 for a two‑day visit ahead of the summit.

South Korea is hosting the summit this year in Gyeongju, on October 31–November 1, under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow.”

Seoul is also coordinating with Beijing for the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is expected to attend on October 30.

Expectations are growing for a US–China “pull-aside” meeting on the APEC sidelines; a rare in-person encounter between Trump and Xi since 2019.

However, that meeting is not assured. In recent weeks, tensions have spurred up over China’s new export controls on rare earth minerals and critical inputs, prompting Trump to threaten a 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods, effective November 1st.

Despite the escalation, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent affirmed that the Trump‑Xi meeting remains on track, pointing to “substantial communication” between Washington and Beijing.

**Read More: [China Defends Rare Earth Export Controls, Condemns US Tariff Threats](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/china-defends-rare-earth-export-controls/)**

According to Brookings analysts, if the two meet, the agenda will likely center on setting boundaries over further economic coercion, and maintaining channels to manage disputes. But they caution that a summit will not magically erase structural tensions in the bilateral relation.

During his stay, Trump is expected to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and hold further meetings in the lead-up to the summit.

Washington and Seoul are reportedly negotiating a $350 billion investment into the US economy tied to a new tariff agreement. In the same series of negotiations, South Korean President met Trump at the White House, in August.

For South Korea, hosting both leaders is a diplomatic opportunity and a delicate balancing act. Seoul is also simultaneously under pressure to ensure the APEC summit is more than a backdrop for the US–China showdown.

Ideally, Seoul would want the APEC Summit to advance multilateral cooperation on sustainable growth, connectivity, and supply chains.