Trump and Xi's High-Stakes Meeting: A Truce or Standoff?

U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping met in Busan amid trade tensions. Talks centered on a potential trade truce, with both sides showing willingness to negotiate. The meeting is part of Trump's Asia trip and includes discussions on tariffs, technology, and geopolitical issues like Taiwan.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping convened for pivotal talks in Busan, seeking a potential trade truce between the world's foremost economies. The meeting marks Trump's first face-to-face with Xi since 2019, amidst a whirlwind Asia tour touting trade advances.

Optimism colored the proceedings, with Trump expressing confidence while acknowledging Xi's reputation as a tough negotiator. As negotiations commenced, Xi conveyed that friction between major economies was normal, pointing to recent consensus on core concerns and signaling a willingness to establish stronger diplomatic ties with the U.S.

As global markets react and trade tensions persist, the summit unfolds with the shadow of potential hardball tactics from both sides. Critical discussions encompass rare-earth exports and technology frontiers, with strategic regional implications adding complexity to the summit's outcomes.

(With inputs from agencies.)