President Donald Trump has traveled to Asia for the first time this term, where he is expected to work on investment deals and peace efforts before meeting face-to-face with China’s president. Xi Jinping to try to de-escalate a trade war.
“We have a lot to talk to President Xi about, and he has a lot to talk to us about,” Mr Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday night. “I think we will have a good meeting.”
The president will be on a long-haul flight, arriving in Malaysia on Sunday morning, the first stop on a three-country visit.
Mr Trump met with Qatar’s emir and prime minister on Air Force One on Saturday during a refueling stop in that country. The emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said that as soon as he heard that the president was coming to Qatar, he said he wanted to have a conversation.
Mr Trump thanked the emir and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for bringing “peace to the Middle East” after mediating. Israel and Hamas peace agreementcalling it a “great ally”.
It comes as its own journey US government shutdown it drags Many federal workers will lose their first full paycheck this week, there are flight disruptions as already-strapped air traffic controllers work without pay, and states face the prospect of federal food aid drying up. With Republicans rejecting Democratic demands to extend the health tax credits, there is no sign of a break in the impasse. But Mr. Trump himself seems to be keeping it business as usual, including by embarking on this latest foreign trip.
“America is shut down and the president is abandoning the people,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Mr Trump’s first stop is at a regional summit in Kuala Lumpur. Trump attended the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations only once during his first term, but this year Malaysia and the US have been working to address the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.
On Sunday, he will have a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, followed by a joint signing ceremony with the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia.
Mr Trump threatened earlier this year to withdraw from trade deals with the countries if they did not stop fighting, and his administration is working with Malaysia to end the extended ceasefire.
From there, Mr. Trump heads to Japan and South Korea, where he is expected to advance talks on at least $900 billion in investments for U.S. factories and other projects those countries pledged in exchange for Trump’s planned easing. tariff rates Down to 15% from 25%.
The trip to Tokyo comes a week after Japan elected its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. Trump will meet with Takaichi, a protégé of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Mr Trump was close to Abe, who was assassinated after he left office.
Mr Trump said Takaichi’s relationship with Abe was a “good sign” and “I look forward to meeting him”.
While there, Mr Trump is expected to be hosted by Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, with whom he will meet Stalled US troops In Japan, according to a senior US official who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity about the planned trip.
In South Korea, Mr. Trump is expected to have one a meeting of high expectations On the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit with China’s Xi.
While the APEC summit will be held in Gyeongju, the Trump-Xi meeting is expected to take place in the city of Busan, according to the US official.
The rally follows a month of volatile moves trade war China and the US have shaken the global economy.