**Report on the Trump-Xi Summit of October 30, 2025**

The first direct meeting in six years between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, held on October 30, 2025, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Busan, South Korea, marked a pivotal moment in the deeply fraught relationship between the world's two largest economies. Occurring amidst a backdrop of escalating trade threats and geopolitical rivalry often described as a "new Cold War," the summit produced a series of announced agreements aimed at de-escalating tensions ([cand.com.vn](https://cand.com.vn/the-gioi-24h/tong-thong-donald-trump-gap-chu-tich-tap-can-binh-tai-han-quoc-i786377)). However, analysis of the divergent official narratives from Washington and Beijing, coupled with expert commentary, suggests that the outcome is more of a tactical pause driven by mutual domestic pressures than a fundamental reset of their strategic competition.

### **Pre-Summit Atmosphere: A Relationship on the Brink**

The lead-up to the summit was characterized by intense hostility. The trade war, a hallmark of President Trump's first term, had reignited early in his second. In the weeks prior to the meeting, China proposed expanding export controls on rare earth minerals, which are critical for high-tech manufacturing and defense industries ([cand.com.vn](https://cand.com.vn/the-gioi-24h/tong-thong-donald-trump-gap-chu-tich-tap-can-binh-tai-han-quoc-i786377)). This move was seen as a direct retaliation against U.S. technological restrictions. President Trump responded with threats to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and further restrict exports of products utilizing American software, a move that could have severely impacted the global economy ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/articles/c5yd5g8jm48o)). This tit-for-tat escalation created significant uncertainty for international markets and businesses, making the face-to-face dialogue between the two leaders a matter of global urgency. The meeting itself, lasting one hour and forty minutes at the Gimhae Air Base, was thus freighted with the expectation of either breaking the cycle of conflict or plunging the relationship into a deeper crisis ([soha.vn](https://soha.vn/gap-truc-tiep-ong-tap-sau-6-nam-tong-thong-trump-tim-co-hoi-dinh-chien-thuong-mai-198251030111352927.htm)).

### **Declared Outcomes: A Tale of Two Narratives**

Immediately following the summit, a significant divergence emerged between the U.S. and Chinese accounts of the agreements reached. President Trump presented the outcome as a comprehensive and decisive victory, while President Xi’s statements were more measured, emphasizing consensus and the need for stability.

**President Trump's Triumphant Declaration**

President Trump was effusive in his praise for the meeting, rating it "above a 10" and describing it as a "great success" ([cand.com.vn](https://cand.com.vn/the-gioi-24h/ong-trump-danh-gia-cuoc-gap-voi-chu-tich-tap-tren-ca-diem-10-i786412)). He announced a broad agreement which he framed as a one-year deal subject to annual renegotiation ([dantri.com.vn](https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/tong-thong-trump-dat-thoa-thuan-voi-trung-quoc-ve-loat-van-de-quan-trong-20251030131021275.htm)). The key components of the deal, as articulated by the U.S. side, are summarized below:

| U.S. Concessions/Actions                                     | Chinese Concessions/Actions                                                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Reduction of tariffs on Chinese goods.                       | Stronger crackdown on the illicit trade of fentanyl precursors.                                                             |
| Agreement to act as an "arbiter" in direct negotiations between Nvidia and China regarding advanced chip exports. | Resumption of large-scale purchases of U.S. soybeans.                                                                       |
| Suspension of special port fees on Chinese vessels for one year. | Suspension of new restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals for one year.                                           |
| Postponement of new regulations targeting a Chinese subsidiary for one year. | Willingness to negotiate a deal regarding the U.S. operations of TikTok.                                                  |

*Sources: ([cand.com.vn](https://cand.com.vn/the-gioi-24h/ong-trump-danh-gia-cuoc-gap-voi-chu-tich-tap-tren-ca-diem-10-i786412)), ([dantri.com.vn](https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/tong-thong-trump-dat-thoa-thuan-voi-trung-quoc-ve-loat-van-de-quan-trong-20251030131021275.htm)), ([soha.vn](https://soha.vn/gap-truc-tiep-ong-tap-sau-6-nam-tong-thong-trump-tim-co-hoi-dinh-chien-thuong-mai-198251030111352927.htm))*

This narrative portrayed a clear quid pro quo where the U.S. secured major concessions on critical domestic issues like the opioid crisis (fentanyl) and support for its agricultural sector (soybeans), while also neutralizing China's leverage on rare earths and technology.

**President Xi's Call for Stability**

In stark contrast, the official Chinese response was described by observers as "vague" and far more reserved ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/articles/c5yd5g8jm48o)). President Xi did not publicly confirm the specific points announced by Trump. Instead, his remarks focused on the broader principles of managing the relationship. He stated that the economic and trade teams of both countries had reached a "basic consensus" on resolving some major issues after extensive discussions. He stressed that it was "normal" for the two powers to have disagreements but emphasized that they should avoid falling into a "cycle of mutual retaliation" ([plo.vn](https://plo.vn/ong-tap-len-tieng-ve-cuoc-gap-voi-ong-trump-post878529.html)). Xi called for the swift implementation of the agreed-upon steps to produce "concrete results," which he hoped would serve as a "reassuring pill" for both their economies and the global economy at large ([plo.vn](https://plo.vn/ong-tap-len-tieng-ve-cuoc-gap-voi-ong-trump-post878529.html)). This framing prioritizes de-escalation and process over specific transactional wins, reflecting a desire to project stability and responsible global leadership.

### **Expert Analysis: A "Tactical Pause" in an Enduring Rivalry**

The consensus among most analysts is that the summit achieved a "tactical pause" or a "temporary truce" rather than a lasting resolution to the underlying conflicts ([vietnamplus.vn](https://www.vietnamplus.vn/cuoc-gap-thuong-dinh-my-trung-ben-le-apec-2025-diem-dung-chien-thuat-post1073899.vnp)). This de-escalation is seen as a pragmatic move driven by pressing domestic calculations for both leaders.

For President Trump, the agreement offers a significant "diplomatic achievement." It allows him to demonstrate progress in the trade war, potentially calming volatile financial markets and reassuring American voters and businesses who have been negatively impacted by his tariff policies ([vietnamplus.vn](https://www.vietnamplus.vn/cuoc-gap-thuong-dinh-my-trung-ben-le-apec-2025-diem-dung-chien-thuat-post1073899.vnp)). The concessions on fentanyl and soybeans address key constituencies. Furthermore, the summit aligns with Trump's desire to project an image of a global peacemaker, a theme also noted during his engagement with ASEAN leaders ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/articles/c8x14l5l5lpo)).

For President Xi, the primary motivation is economic stability. The Chinese economy has been facing headwinds, and a prolonged and escalating trade war with the U.S. threatens to disrupt critical supply chains, deter foreign investment, and harm its export sector. Securing a temporary halt to further tariffs provides crucial breathing room to manage these economic challenges and ensure the political stability that is paramount to his leadership ([vietnamplus.vn](https://www.vietnamplus.vn/cuoc-gap-thuong-dinh-my-trung-ben-le-apec-2025-diem-dung-chien-thuat-post1073899.vnp)).

However, some experts remain deeply skeptical that this pause will alter the long-term trajectory of the relationship. Aleksei Martynov, an analyst cited by Sputnik, argued that the meeting would not lead to significant change, asserting that the U.S. has gone "too far to 'roll back'" its confrontational policies. He pointed to the extensive tariffs and increased U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific as evidence of a structural shift in U.S. strategy, potentially guided by frameworks like "Project 2025," which envisions a more assertive American global posture ([kevesko.vn](https://kevesko.vn/20251030/y-kien-chuyen-gia-quan-he-my---trung-se-khong-thay-doi-sau-cuoc-gap-giua-cac-nha-lanh-dao-hai-nuoc-39250754.html)). This perspective suggests that while leaders can manage tensions at the margins, the fundamental dynamic of strategic competition is now entrenched. Experts from the BBC similarly warned that any truce would be fragile and that no one should expect it to "last forever," highlighting that the core issues of technological supremacy and geopolitical influence remain unresolved ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/vietnamese/articles/c5yd5g8jm48o)).

### **Conclusion**

Based on the available information, the October 30, 2025, summit between President Trump and President Xi successfully averted an immediate escalation in the U.S.-China trade war, establishing a pragmatic, short-term "tactical pause" in their strategic competition. It was not, however, a fundamental reset of the relationship. The significant divergence between the detailed, triumphant narrative from Washington and the cautious, principle-focused statements from Beijing indicates that the "deal" announced by President Trump is likely a framework of temporary understandings rather than a fully codified, binding agreement.

This de-escalation provides immediate relief to a global economy rattled by instability and addresses pressing domestic political and economic concerns for both leaders. Yet, the core drivers of conflict—fierce competition over technology, geopolitical rivalry, and fundamentally different economic and political systems—remain firmly in place. The explicit one-year term for the announced arrangements reinforces the temporary nature of this truce,