US President Donald Trump has arrived in South Korea where he will meet with President Xi Jinping on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday confirmed the meeting, the first between the two leaders since Trump began his second term.

"As agreed between China and the US, President Xi Jinping will meet with President Donald Trump in Busan... to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest," a ministry spokesperson said.

"I think we're going to have a great meeting with President Xi of China, and a lot of problems are going to be solved," Trump told reporters on Air Force One heading from Japan.

"The relationship with China is very good. So I think we're going to have a very good outcome for our country and for the world, actually."

Trump said he expects to reduce US tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for Beijing's commitment to curb exports of fentanyl precursor chemicals.

"They’ll be doing what they can do," he said.

Negotiators from the world's top two economies hashed out a framework on Sunday for a deal to pause steeper American tariffs and Chinese rare earths export controls, according to US officials.

After arriving in Busan on Wednesday, Trump strolled down a red carpet and shook hands with officials. He then boarded his helicopter, heading for Gyeongju.

Trump is due to meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung later in the day.

Lee's office said the pair will discuss trade, investment and peace on the Korean peninsula.

Trump said ahead of the meeting that a trade deal between the two countries would be finalised soon.

"Our deal with the Republic of Korea will be finalised very soon," he told delegates at the Apec CEO summit in Gyeongju. "We're really we're wedded, and we have a very special relationship, a special bond. In fact, we're working with you on shipbuilding."

Hours before Trump's arrival, North Korea announced it had test launched sea-to-surface cruise missiles off its western coast in a show of strength against Pyongyang's "enemies".

Trump has extended an invitation to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to meet while he is on the peninsula, but on Air Force One he said his focus was on the Xi meeting.

"At some point, we'll be involved with North Korea. I think they'd like to, and I'd like to," the US president said.

Trump and Kim last met in 2019. (Agencies)
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Last updated: 2025-10-29 HKT 15:46