Seoul: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Thursday for a high-stakes summit that will be watched closely for signs of a reprieve in the two countries’ escalating trade war marked by tit-for-tat tariffs.

The two leaders met for the first time since 2019 at Naraemaru, a reception hall inside an Air Force base in the southeastern city of Busan, shortly after Xi arrived in the country for a three-day state visit.

Trump arrived at the venue beforehand after departing the nearby city of Gyeongju, the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gatherings this week, earlier in the day.

“We’re going to have a very successful meeting,” Trump said as the two leaders posed for photos ahead of their talks. “But he’s a very tough negotiator. That’s not good,

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