Korean peninsula tensions and trade top Trump’s agenda on Asia tour

World Today

Counting down to U.S. President Donald Trump’s much anticipated state visit to China. Trump will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The nuclear threat on the Korean Peninsula and trade issues are expected to top the agenda.

CGTN’s Jiang Shaoyi has more.

It’s his longest foreign trip so far as U.S. President. Donald Trump started his Asia tour in Hawaii, followed by stops in Tokyo and Seoul, where he met with Japanese and South Korean leaders.

The top concern for the U.S. president: the DPRK.

“North Korea situation will be a discussion that we will have front and center, and hopefully something is going to be very successfully worked out on that,” Trump said.

President Trump is due to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, where he will have his third face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two met in April at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and in July at the G20 summit in Hamburg.

One of Trump’s tasks will be to press Beijing to do more about tensions on the Korean Peninsula. But Cui Tiankai, the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., is asking Washington to do its part—and for Trump to stop the escalating war of words.

“It’s clear that, if only China is making its best efforts and others are doing things that could lead to escalation of tension, this issue will not be solved,” Ambassador Cui said.

As a businessman himself—and with a business delegation of dozens of CEOs and other corporate leaders tagging along—Trump will be looking to negotiate a new trade relationship with China.

In the U.S., expectations are high for the business opportunities this visit could bring.

“You can’t help to be impressed with the growth of its economy, GDP,” said Governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam. “China is one great opportunity to do that”

Steve Daines, a U.S. Senator for Montana, agreed. “I’m certain the two presidents will have a great meeting,” he said. “It’s a good thing for the world.”

U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad said the doors of the Forbidden City in Beijing will open to the two first families on Wednesday, which could be “a very personal and special occasion”.

The world is watching what chemistry will take place between the two great powers.