Seoul: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to make state visits to South Korea next week during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation events, South Korea’s presidential security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, confirmed on Friday.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will hold separate summit meetings with both leaders. The visits are seen as a major diplomatic opportunity for Seoul to strengthen its position as a regional hub and promote peace, stability, and prosperity across Northeast Asia.

Trump’s visit comes amid rising tensions between the United States and China, particularly over trade and security issues. South Korean officials hope to use the meetings to address U.S. tariffs affecting exports and to explore ways to resolve outstanding disagreements, including the implementation of a 350 billion dollar package intended to reduce tariffs. Discussions are also expected to cover the global fentanyl crisis, which Trump has linked to precursor chemicals from China.

President Xi’s meetings with Lee will focus on enhancing bilateral relations and tackling security challenges, including North Korea’s nuclear program. The timing of the visits is significant, coming shortly after China imposed export restrictions on rare earth minerals, which are critical for global technology supply chains.

Before the APEC summit in Gyeongju, President Lee will attend a two day ASEAN summit in Malaysia from October 26 to 27. There, he will meet with Trump to discuss regional cooperation, security concerns, and issues such as online scams affecting South Korean citizens in Southeast Asia.

Wi described the upcoming meetings as a super week of multilateral summits, underlining South Korea’s strategic role in facilitating dialogue between the world’s major powers. Analysts say the visits could have wide implications for trade, security, and diplomatic relations in the Asia Pacific region.