White House: Trump to Meet Malaysian Prime Minister on the 26th, Xi Jinping on the 30th

The White House announced on Eastern U.S. time the 23rd that U.S. President Trump will begin his Asia trip on the evening of the 24th, with planned visits to Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. During his stay in South Korea, apart from attending Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) related events, he will also hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 30th.

This will be Trump's first trip to Asia since returning to the White House, and also his first meeting with Xi Jinping during his second presidential term. As U.S.-China trade tensions persist, the meeting between the two leaders is drawing global attention.

White House spokesperson Leavitt announced in a press conference on the afternoon of the 23rd that Trump is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar on Sunday afternoon (26th, Malaysia time), and attend the ASEAN leaders' working dinner in the evening.

Leavitt said Trump is scheduled to fly to Tokyo, Japan on the 27th, and will hold a bilateral meeting with Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi the next morning. After his Japan visit, Trump will fly to South Korea on the 29th, meet with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, and deliver a keynote speech at the APEC Business Leaders' Summit luncheon.

She stated that during Trump's stay in South Korea, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping on the morning of the 30th, and depart for the U.S. later that day.

Trump to Meet Xi Jinping in South Korea: Fentanyl Tops Agenda

U.S. President Trump said on the 23rd that fentanyl would be the top issue on the agenda.

According to reports from Central News Agency, on the afternoon of the 23rd, Trump attended an event at the White House. When asked by the media whether there was evidence that China was smuggling fentanyl through Venezuela to circumvent port controls in the U.S. and Mexico, he replied, “They are indeed doing so.”

Since returning to the White House, Trump has vowed to crack down on the abuse of the opioid drug fentanyl. He has previously said that the illegal inflow of fentanyl into the U.S. is one of the fundamental reasons for imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Recently, the Trump administration has also launched attacks on vessels suspected of transporting drugs from Venezuela to the U.S., resulting in multiple deaths.

He stated that China has been subjected to a 20% tariff increase because of fentanyl, which amounts to tens of billions of dollars. Starting from November 1, the total tariffs imposed by the U.S. on China will further increase to 157%.

However, he said, “We don't want this to continue because it is unsustainable for them; they can't keep it up.”

Trump said that during his meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea next week, they will discuss major issues, including agriculture, but “the first question I'll ask him is about fentanyl.”

He believes that the tariffs imposed by the U.S. due to fentanyl represent a “huge punishment” for China, and that Beijing will want to take action. This is one of the topics being discussed between the U.S. and China, “I put it at the very top of the list.”

Trump will visit Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea in succession, attend APEC-related events during his stay in South Korea, and hold a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping on the 30th.