High-stakes meeting between Trump, Xi runs less than 2 hours

(NewsNation) — President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met face-to-face in South Korea on Thursday morning for less than two hours amid rising economic tensions between their respective nations.

In public remarks before their mostly private session, Xi said it felt "warm" to meet Trump again for their first sit-down since 2019 and noted the U.S. and China have maintained a "stable" relationship, despite their differences.

"We do not always see eye to eye with each other, and it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then," Xi added, through a translator.

For his part, Trump heaped praise upon Xi, calling him a "tough negotiator," in what appeared to be a charm offensive. However, moments before the globally significant summit, the U.S. president posted on social media that the Pentagon would resume nuclear weapons testing on a scale comparable with China and Russia.

Observers saw that as a warning shot, metaphorically, as the U.S. and China got down to brass tacks.

Trump on Wednesday said he expected his meeting with Xi to last three to four hours. But the duration, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, was about one hour, 40 minutes. Both leaders shook hands in open view upon leaving but did not make public remarks at the conclusion.

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 30: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands as they depart following a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea. Trump is meeting Xi for the first time since taking office for his second term, following months of growing tension between both countries. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The leaders and their delegations had been expected to discuss a range of familiar topics, including tariffs, trade and a deal to preserve Chinese app TikTok in the United States under American owners. Other topics included persuading China to resume purchasing American soybeans and an agreement on rare-earth minerals, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Earlier this week, Bessent said a framework deal had been agreed upon, allowing Beijing to avoid a 100% tariff that was threatened to take effect Nov. 1.

"I believe we’ve reached a very substantial framework that will avoid that and allow us to discuss many other things with the Chinese," Bessent said.

Trump's meeting with Xi comes at the conclusion of a multiday tour of Asia. The U.S. president has been touting a series of trade agreements with other nations in the region.