Trump begins Asia tour in Malaysia, eyes meeting with Xi

US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to open a regional tour that will culminate in South Korea with talks aimed at clinching a trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The White House hopes the meeting can halt the tariff war between the world’s two largest economies.

Before departing Washington, Trump signalled he could also meet North Korea’s Kim Jong Un while on the Korean peninsula, saying he was open to the prospect. The president will travel to Japan next, where he is scheduled to meet the country’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. Both sides have emphasised the importance of strengthening the Japan–US alliance.

Trump also touted plans to formalise a peace understanding he helped broker after deadly clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, saying the signing would take place upon his arrival in Asia. During a refuelling stop in Qatar, he met leaders in Doha, a guarantor of the Gaza ceasefire deal that Washington has promoted.

The president is due in Tokyo on Monday and will meet Takaichi the following day. He praised her ties to slain former premier Shinzo Abe, with whom he enjoyed a close working relationship in his first term. The highlight of the trip is set for South Korea, where Trump plans to meet President Lee Jae Myung before sitting down with Xi.

Financial markets will watch whether any breakthroughs emerge on trade, especially after a recent flare-up over Beijing’s rare-earth measures and Trump’s announcement of 100% tariffs, which he later opted not to enforce immediately. Officials in Seoul said there is a “considerable” chance Trump could also meet Kim, though Pyongyang has demanded Washington soften its stance on denuclearisation first.