US President Donald Trump is moving to the second leg of his Asia tour, boarding Air Force One for Japan after time in Kuala Lumpur for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.

Trump came back to the press cabin on Air Force One along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and they took questions for about a half hour.

Asian shares surged Monday while European markets were little changed after Trump said he expected to reach a trade agreement with China.

"We have Japan and then we have South Korea, but we have China coming and it's gonna be very interesting," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

"I have a lot of respect for President Xi and we are going to I think we're gonna come away with the deal."

A trade deal between the U.S. and China is drawing closer, officials from the world’s two largest economies said Sunday as they reached an initial consensus for Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to aim to finalize during their high-stakes meeting.

Trump said he would travel to China sometime in the earlier part of the new year, adding President Xi would then visit the United States.

During the gaggle, Trump also said he still wants to meet with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

The president’s overtures to reconnect with reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were clear again during the gaggle.

“If he wants to meet, I’ll be in South Korea,” Trump said.

Trump even said he’d be willing to extend his trip if there was a chance to talk to Kim.

Since South Korea is Trump's last stop before returning to the U.S., “it’s pretty easy to do,” he noted.