Trump meets South Korean president in Gyeongju seeking investments

US President Donald Trump met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung within the metropolis of Gyeongju on Wednesday – the newest cease on his Asia tour geared toward securing new funding offers.

“The Republic of Korea is a pricey American buddy and an in depth ally. And as we are able to see on this stunning metropolis, it’s really one of the crucial exceptional nations on this planet,” Trump mentioned forward of the assembly on the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, including that the president of South Korea “is a superb particular person.”

Throughout their bilateral assembly, Lee requested Trump to think about giving South Korea entry to gas for conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines — a long-standing restriction underneath a U.S. nonproliferation settlement.

Trump’s earlier stops on his journey included visits to Malaysia and Japan.

After his go to to Japan yielded about $490 billion in funding commitments, Trump mentioned a commerce take care of South Korea has confirmed more difficult as he seeks one other $350 billion in U.S. funding. Trump predicted that complete new funding may exceed $22 trillion in funding by the tip of his first 12 months within the White Home.

TRUMP’S FOCUS TURNS TO JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA TO ASIA TRIP CONTINUES

US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attend an honorary ceremony on the Gyeongju Nationwide Museum in Gyoeongju, South Korea. (AP)

“I feel by the tip of the primary 12 months of my second time period, we’ll in all probability be at $20 or $21, perhaps even $22 trillion of investments in our nation,” the president mentioned. “And we had a massively profitable first time period. We had the strongest economic system within the historical past of our nation, the strongest we have ever had. However this, I feel, blows the entire thing away. We’ve got nice insurance policies. There are some actually good issues taking place.”

“All over the world, we’re signing one commerce deal after one other to stability {our relationships} primarily based on reciprocity,” Trump added. “I’ve signed landmark agreements with Malaysia, Cambodia and Japan, and our take care of the Republic of Korea shall be finalized very quickly. These agreements shall be unbelievable victories for all of us, as a result of everybody is best off when now we have steady partnerships that aren’t suffering from power issues and imbalances.”

In his handle to enterprise leaders on the occasion, Trump described an “financial revolution” underway in the USA. The president urged executives to not take heed to “little minds with out imaginative and prescient” who vowed to “construct, commerce, flourish and prosper collectively.”

TRUMP ANNOUNCES MEETING WITH XI JINPING AT SOUTH KOREA APEC SUMMIT SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONTH

US President Donald Trump shakes fingers with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung whereas attending an honorary ceremony on the Gyeongju Nationwide Museum in Gyoeongju, South Korea. (AP)

Trump later acquired South Korea’s Grand Order of Mugunghwa – the nation’s highest honor – together with a reproduction of a royal crown from the traditional Silla Kingdom, symbolizing Seoul’s recognition of its previous diplomatic efforts.

Trump’s go to coincided with new tensions on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea mentioned it had fired sea-to-surface cruise missiles off its west coast.

“He is been launching rockets for many years, proper?” Trump mentioned about North Korean chief Kim Jong-un.

Trump reiterated his willingness to satisfy with the North’s chief, saying: “We had an excellent understanding of one another.”

US President Donald Trump waves after his speech on the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation CEO Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea. (AP)

See also  Muslim Michigan mayors who endorsed Trump named U.S. ambassadors

In a separate speech, the South Korean chief warned of rising protectionism and urged world commerce cooperation – a message that contrasted with Trump’s America First speak.

Trump additionally previewed his upcoming assembly with Chinese language President Xi Jinping.

“You recognize President Xi of China is coming right here tomorrow, and I hope we’ll make a deal,” Trump mentioned. “I feel we will make a deal. I feel will probably be a very good deal for each of them. And that is a very nice consequence.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“That is higher than combating and having every kind of issues. And you realize, there is no purpose for that,” he added.

The Related Press contributed to this report.