Seoul security adviser says, US & Chinese President make state visits to South Korea next week

(Forelines) – U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to South Korea for state visits when the nation hosts Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) activities next week, the country’s top security adviser announced Friday, according to Reuters report.

Wi Sung-lac, South Korea’s presidential security adviser stated, Reuters quoted that South Korean President Lee Jae Myung intends to meet separately with Trump and Xi at the summit.

“Through a series of summits between the leaders of South Korea and the United States, the United States and China, and South Korea and China, we will not only highlight South Korea’s role as a platform but also build consensus for peace, prosperity, and stability in the region,” Wi said reporters, cited by Reuters.

Amid rising trade tensions between the two biggest economies in the world, the White House earlier announced that Trump will meet Xi in South Korea next week as part of an Asian tour, as per Reuters.

At a planned meeting between Lee and Trump, Wi stated, Reuters quoted that South Korea hoped to advance on security and U.S. tariff problems, but he was unsure if an agreement would be achieved between the two parties.

As part of a $350 billion package promised by South Korea as part of an agreement to reduce U.S. tariffs on the nation’s exports, Seoul’s industry minister stated on Friday that the country and its primary ally are still “sharply” at odds on the amount of cash investment, Reuters added.

According to Reuters, citing top security adviser Wi, Lee intends to meet with Xi for a summit where the two leaders would likely talk about matters pertaining to North Korea and their growing bilateral partnership.

As per Reuters, between October 26 and 27, Lee will go to Malaysia for two days to attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which Trump will also attend, prior to the APEC meetings.

Lee will speak with Hun Manet, the prime minister of Cambodia, on the margins of the ASEAN meeting about the latest problems with internet scams.

“A super week of multilateral summits is kicking off, starting with the ASEAN Summit and continuing into the APEC Summit in Gyeongju,” Wi stated, cited by Reuters.