Seoul: U.S. President Donald Trump is still anticipating a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced during a press conference. This meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which South Korea is preparing to host later this month.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Bessent's comments come amid a recent escalation in tensions between the United States and China. The strain is primarily due to Beijing's decision to expand export controls on rare earths, casting doubts on the planned meeting between the two leaders. Despite the friction, Bessent expressed that Trump remains hopeful for the encounter with Xi, stating that the president reiterated this expectation during their discussion the previous night.

Earlier, Trump had voiced skepticism about the meeting, criticizing China's export control measures as "extraordinarily aggressive." He suggested there was "no reason" to meet Xi under the current circumstances. However, he later adopted a more reserved stance, affirming his presence in South Korea regardless of the situation and leaving open the possibility of a meeting with Xi.

The U.S. has shown concern over China's export restrictions on rare earths, materials vital for manufacturing electronic devices, weapons systems, and other technological products. The ongoing issue underscores the importance of the potential dialogue between Trump and Xi in South Korea.