Busan, South Korea – United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan on Thursday for their first face to face talks since 2019, striking what both sides described as a breakthrough, though analysts caution it may be little more than a temporary truce.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, lasted nearly one hour and forty minutes. President Trump hailed the encounter as “an amazing meeting” and even rated it “12 out of 10,” while Xi Jinping emphasised that Beijing and Washington should be “partners and friends.”
Key outcomes of the summit included:
- The United States agreed to ease tariffs on certain Chinese goods.
- China pledged to resume large-scale imports of American soya beans.
- Beijing will delay restrictions on rare earth exports, a sector critical to global technology supply chains.
- Both sides committed to intensifying cooperation against illegal fentanyl trafficking, a major concern for Washington.
Despite the upbeat tone, experts argue the agreement falls short of addressing the deeper structural disputes that have defined the US-China trade conflict. Issues such as China’s industrial policies, state subsidies, and overcapacity in manufacturing were notably absent from the discussions.
Analysts described the outcome as a “tactical pause” rather than a strategic reset. A Reuters analysis noted that the deal essentially rolls back tensions to pre-2019 levels, without resolving the underlying causes of the trade war.
The summit also produced a commitment for two follow-up visits in 2026, signalling that both leaders are keen to maintain dialogue. However, scepticism remains over whether these talks will lead to substantive reforms or simply prolong the cycle of temporary truces.
Global markets responded cautiously, with Asian stocks showing modest gains following the announcement. Investors welcomed the easing of immediate tensions but remained wary of the fragility of the agreement.
For South Korea, which hosted the summit, the meeting underscored Busan’s growing role as a diplomatic hub in the Asia-Pacific. The city, already a key economic centre, is increasingly being positioned as a venue for high-level international negotiations.
While Trump and Xi projected optimism, the broader international community is likely to view the summit as a symbolic gesture rather than a decisive turning point. The coming months will determine whether the commitments made in Busan translate into lasting stability or dissolve into renewed confrontation.
Sources: Al Jazeera, SCMP, The Straits Times, Reuters
