Trump and Xi Jinping hold extended talks in Busan on 30 Oct amid trade and peace discussions

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA: Chinese and US leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea, on 30 October 2025, for their first face-to-face talks in six years.

The meeting, lasting about 1 hour and 40 minutes, exceeded its planned duration and was described by Chinese broadcaster CCTV as “longer than scheduled.”

The encounter came amid renewed tensions over trade and global security but produced signs of limited conciliation.

Both sides were accompanied by senior economic and diplomatic officials, reflecting the stakes for the world’s two largest economies.

In his opening remarks, Xi called for steady leadership between the two nations, saying both were “at the helm of China-US relations” and must “stay the right course so that the giant ship can sail steadily forward.”

He added that despite occasional friction, it was “normal” for such large economies to have differences due to “different national conditions.”

Xi emphasised that China’s growth aligned with Trump’s “vision to make America great again,” adding that the two countries were “fully able to help each other succeed and prosper together.”

He expressed readiness to “build a solid foundation for China-US relations and create a sound atmosphere for the development of both countries.”

Trump, in his remarks, referred to Xi as “a friend” and “a great leader of a great country.”

He said the two sides had already “agreed to a lot of things” and would likely reach further agreements during the meeting. “I think we're going to have a fantastic relationship for a long period of time,” he added.

A major theme of the meeting was global peace.

Xi praised Trump’s role in brokering recent ceasefire deals in Gaza and between Thailand and Cambodia, saying the US president “cares a lot about world peace” and has been “very enthusiastic” about resolving regional conflicts.

Xi noted that China has also been contributing “in our own way” to the resolution of such disputes.

Xi called for joint responsibility between the US and China in addressing global challenges, saying the two countries “can jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries and work together to accomplish more—for the good of our two countries and the whole world.”

At the negotiation table, both presidents were accompanied by senior figures from their respective administrations.

On Xi’s side sat Chief of Staff Cai Qi, Vice-Premier He Lifeng, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, along with senior economic officials. Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, among others.

Following the talks, both leaders departed South Korea without issuing a joint statement.

However, Trump spoke briefly to reporters aboard Air Force One, describing the meeting as “amazing” and saying, “He is a great leader.” He confirmed that both sides had reached “conclusions on many important points.”

Trump also announced that Washington would reduce tariffs on Chinese imports—introduced amid the fentanyl crisis—from previous levels down to 10%, effective immediately. In return, Beijing agreed to resume large-scale purchases of American soybeans.

Observers noted that while few details were disclosed, the tone of the meeting suggested an easing of tensions after years of strained relations.

The discussions came just ahead of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, where Xi is expected to address regional cooperation and sustainable development.

As both leaders left Busan, questions remained over the durability of the goodwill expressed, but analysts saw the meeting as a cautiously optimistic step towards renewed dialogue between Washington and Beijing.