Trump arrives in Asia for week of key talks - including with China's Xi

[ad_1] President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia for a virtually weeklong tour of Asia that can embody conferences with key leaders, with a predominant purpose of securing a commerce cope with China's President Xi Jinping -- in hopes of ending a monthslong commerce battle.

Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur shortly after 10 a.m. native time on Sunday. Whereas he was on his manner, Trump posted on his social media platform that he would meet with the prime minister of Thailand upon arrival and signal a peace settlement between Thailand and Cambodia, noting the latest loss of life of Thailand's Queen Mom Sirikit.

President Donald Trump walks with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he arrives at Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Trump is anticipated to sit down down with Asian leaders on the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has a bilateral assembly with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim whereas in Kuala Lumpur, throughout the preliminary stage of his journey.

Throughout his first occasion of his swing by means of Asia, Trump signed the "Kuala Lumpur Peace Treaty" alongside the prime ministers of Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia -- an settlement associated to the five-day summer season border battle between Cambodia and Thailand.

The deal will launch 18 Cambodian prisoners of battle and deploy observers from ASEAN nations to supervise the implementation of the ceasefire settlement, in response to a joint declaration launched by the signatory nations.

President Donald Trump is greeted by Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he arrives at Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Bangkok and Phnom Penh additionally dedicated to army de-escalation, refraining from spreading dangerous rhetoric or selling false data, implementing humanitarian de-mining within the border areas and settling border disputes by means of peaceable means and worldwide regulation.

Through the signing, Trump once more took credit score for the ceasefire.

"I am proud to assist settle this battle and and actually develop good friendships, together with people who work with every crew," Trump mentioned.

U.S. President Donald Trump joins the performers in a dance throughout a welcoming ceremony after arriving at Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Airport, to attend the forty seventh Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 26, 2025.

Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters

"We sat there all day lengthy making cellphone calls. And it was wonderful the best way it got here collectively in a short time. I imply, actually in a short time, you brought on me excellent leisure," Trump mentioned as he described the a number of calls he had with the leaders over the summer season as preventing broke out.

"I might have had a variety of enjoyable, however that is far more enjoyable for me than something having to do with nearly something, since you're saving folks and also you're saving nations, however requested them to decide on the trail of prosperity and peace over pointless bloodshed and battle," Trump mentioned.

Trump additionally signed commerce offers with Cambodia and Malaysia, the framework for a commerce cope with Thailand and a mineral cope with Malaysia whereas in Kuala Lumpur.

The offers with all three nations will set tariff charges on most of their imports to the U.S. at 19%, the White Home mentioned in a sequence of statements.

The minerals cope with Malaysia seems to strengthen "essential minerals useful resource sector governance, selling partnerships between United States and Malaysian firms," the White Home mentioned.

Securing commerce cope with China

Trump is anticipated to sit down down together with his Chinese language counterpart in South Korea on Thursday, the ultimate day of his abroad journey.

U.S.-China relations skilled some detente this summer season as tariffs had been lowered whereas commerce talks continued, however tensions flared just lately when China introduced tightened export controls on uncommon earth minerals weeks earlier than the leaders had been set to fulfill.

President Donald Trump on September 18, 2025 and Chinese language President Xi Jinping September 1, 2025.

AFP/POOL/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

The Trump administration sees these expanded restrictions, which apply to nations world wide, as having a serious affect on world manufacturing. Trump's high financial advisers have referred to as the export controls "financial coercion" and "extortion."

He responded by threatening a further 100% tariff on Chinese language imports, set to take impact Nov. 1, if his talks with Xi fail.

President Donald Trump speaks throughout a roundtable on prison cartels within the State Eating Room of the White Home, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington.

Jim Watson/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

Even so, he has appeared optimistic, saying he expects "to have the ability to make it a very good deal" with Xi when the 2 sit down collectively. He is mentioned they're additionally anticipated to confer about China's buy of American soybeans and even nuclear issues.

U.S. and Chinese language officers reached what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as a "very profitable framework" for discussions between Trump and Xi.

Bessent instructed reporters Sunday that the talks lined a variety of points, together with commerce, uncommon earths, fentanyl, TikTok, agricultural purchases and the broader bilateral relationship.

He characterised the discussions as "constructive, far-reaching, in depth and giving us the power to maneuver ahead and set the stage for the leaders assembly, in a really optimistic framework."

The negotiations had been led by Bessent and Chinese language Vice Premier He Lifeng and happened contained in the Merdeka 118 skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur. Bessent famous that this marks his fifth assembly with the Chinese language vice premier.

Bessent mentioned that popping out of the assembly, he would say "sure", that the commerce truce between the 2 nations could be prolonged, whereas including that it is finally the president's determination.

Different world leaders

Following his cease in Malaysia, Trump will then journey to Japan the place he is anticipated to sit down down with Japan's new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. A political conservative, Takaichi is the nation's first feminine chief. Whereas the U.S. and Japan have already secured a commerce deal, the 2 will spotlight that facet of the U.S.-Japan relationship.

Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks throughout a press convention on the prime minister's workplace in Tokyo, Oct. 21, 2025.

Eugene Hoshiko/AP, Pool

On Wednesday, Trump can be anticipated to go to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Whereas there, Trump will maintain a bilateral assembly with the president of the Republic of Korea, ship keynote remarks on the APEC CEO luncheon and take part in APEC working dinner.

The go to comes after main tensions between South Korea and the U.S. after greater than 400 South Korean staff had been arrested, detained and deported at a Hyundai plant in Georgia as a part of Trump's immigration crackdown.

It got here after Hyundai poured billions into the manufacturing facility to align with Trump's imaginative and prescient of producing in America so as to keep away from the brunt of Trump's tariff insurance policies.

The episode brought on uncertainty concerning the capacity of firms to get staff into the U.S. to construct and function manufacturing vegetation with out comparable incidents. Trump's go to may very well be an opportunity to assuage unease amongst these firms as he continues to court docket funding within the U.S.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney additionally is anticipated to attend APEC and the opposite Asia conferences, and one among Trump's high financial advisers mentioned Friday Trump and Carney will converse whereas there about their newest tariff dispute.

Simply earlier than leaving for Asia, Trump abruptly ended commerce talks with Canada, saying he was indignant a couple of TV advert put out by the province of Ontario that includes Ronald Reagan in 1987 criticizing tariffs. Trump claimed it was an try and "illegally affect" the U.S. Supreme Courtroom, which is about to listen to arguments subsequent month over whether or not he has the facility to unilaterally impose tariffs.

His go to additionally comes simply days after he slapped extra sanctions on Russian oil firms and continues to name on allies to tug again on purchases of Russian crude.

On Thursday, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned these sanctions are already having an affect on, with China and India "scaling again" their contracts.

Although Trump isn't any stranger to APEC and ASEAN summits, having attended many throughout his first time period, this go to will likely be his first main with Asian leaders throughout his second keep in workplace -- as they attempt to navigate his usually unpredictable adjustments in commerce and overseas coverage.