Taiwan has confidence in its relationship with the US, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters on Thursday, when asked about the meeting between Trump and Xi.

Earlier this week, Lin said he is not worried that Trump would "abandon" Taiwan.

China has long vowed to "reunify" with the self-governing island and has not ruled out the use of force in doing so.

There are concerns that the island would become a pawn in today's talks between the two superpowers, even as Trump has claimed that China will not invade Taiwan while he is president.

Washington has said it remains committed to the "One China" policy, by recognising and having formal ties with China rather than Taiwan, but it also maintains a robust, unofficial relationship with the island - which includes selling weapons for Taiwan to defend itself.

That said, Trump has not approved any new arms sales to Taipei since taking office early this year.

Today's meeting between Xi and Trump is an "enormously helpful" step for China and the US to move on from rancour towards a more predictable relationship, Frank Lavin, a former undersecretary at the US Department of Commerce.

"Both leaders signalled with their opening statements that they do want to take issues off the table... and at least get relations back on an even keel," said Lavin, speaking to the BBC's Newsday programme.

Lavin says he observed how Trump, at the start of their meeting, praised Xi while the Chinese leader carried himself with "dignity and professionalism".

"I took a signal from that that he (Trump) believes he is a bit on the backfoot and he wants to signal some goodwill towards Xi to try and get some resolution to the issues he's put forward," Lavin says.

"Trump sort of lit the fire if you will, and Xi responded in kind, and now both sides are going to sit down and see if they can put out the fire they themselves started," he says.

Suranjana Tewari
Asia Business Correspondent, reporting from Gyeongju

As meetings between both leaders continue, here are three issues that will likely be up for discussion:

Tariffs

Tariffs are a real sticking point - Trump had said earlier that he expects to lower tariffs on China in exchange for their cooperation in cracking down on the exports of ingredients used to make fentanyl.

Rare Earths and AI chips

Trump is facing competing pressures because companies like Nvidia want to sell their advanced chips to China. But there's the issue of national security - US officials say Beijing could use high-end chips for military applications.

And then there's rare earths - China's ultimate bargaining chip. China refines 90% of the world's critical minerals and has used the control of supply as leverage in the last few months. The US and other countries are investing heavily to break this domination - but results won't come immediately

TikTok

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said the sale of TikTok to a US buyer could be finalised during the meeting between Trump and Xi. There has been little additional information about the terms of the sale - but if there is one - it would be another win for Trump.

The US will make an announcement that will be a “resounding victory” for American farmers after the Trump-Xi meeting, the US Treasury secretary posted on X, external on Thursday in the lead-up to the talks.

In a post on X, Scott Bessent praised Trump, saying he was "showing what successful American leadership looks like".

The resumption of soybean trade is expected to be a key talking point in President Trump's talks with President Xi.

In a sign of hope, Beijing has bought its first tranche of American soybeans this season, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

If a deal is sealed, it would be a huge win for Trump and American farmers.

China has been the world’s biggest buyer of soybeans but stopped ordering from the US as the trade war heated up.

Leehyun Choi
Reporting from outside Gimhae International Airport

Image source, BBC/Leehyun Choi

Outside the summit venue, the area surrounding Gimhae Aiport is heavily policed to keep out any potential protesters.

Moments ago, a pro-US, anti-China Youtuber's broadcast vehicle with mounted speakers approached the intersection where President Xi's motorcade is presumed to pass through after the summit.

It was swiftly blocked by dozens of police officers and forced to turn back.

Image source, BBC/Leehyun Choi

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, travelling with the president

The reporters travelling with Donald Trump are back outside the venue after just a handful of minutes inside the building. The brief appearence of the two leaders was met by a crush of American and Chinese journalists, along with security details of the two nations.

Trump, who has seemed at ease for much of this trip, having been showered with gifts and praise from a litany of foreign leaders, appeared tense this morning - a reflection of the high stakes in today's meeting.

As Xi spoke, his face was a mask.

Trump had expressed optimism about this meeting as recently as yesterday, but when asked by a reporter if he thought there would be a signed deal today, his reply was only "could be".

Image source, Reuters

There are seven people on each side at the meeting.

On the US side, Trump has brought along Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and US Ambassador to China David Perdue.

From China, Xi is accompanied by Chief of Staff Cai Qi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Premier He Lifeng, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission Zheng Shanjie.

Both leaders are currently in meetings, but before he went in - President Trump had earlier said that a deal with China "could be" on the cards.

Responding to a reporter who asks if he expected to sign a deal today, Trump says: "Could be. We all have a great understanding."

The US and China have seen a turbulent few months despite a shaky trade truce in May to put a stop to tit-for-tat tariffs.

The US has continued to curb its rival’s tech growth by keeping a tight leash on China’s access to Nvidia’s advanced computing chips.

And we saw Beijing go on the offensive by tightening control over its rare earth exports - a pivotal moment in the trade war given how it has a near-monopoly in the processing of the critical minerals that go into electronics, green energy tech and military equipment.

All of this and the fate of Chinese-owned TikTok's US operations are on the table today.

Laura Bicker
China correspondent, reporting from Buysan

China has always said there are no winners in a trade war. But President Xi will feel he is walking into this meeting with a strong hand.

Beijing has “escalated to de-escalate”. It has leveraged its chokehold on rare earths which is hurting US car manufacturers, stopped buying US-grown soy beans which also targets a key Trump voting base, diversified its trade partners to rely less on America, and crucially shown an ability to take the pain of tariffs.

Even with a deal on the table, it’s clear Xi has learned lessons from Trump’s first term - as one analyst put it, he's realised the Chinese economy can be both a sword and a shield against what it perceives as US economic aggression.

With the press ushered out of the meeting room, Trump and Xi's bilateral meeting now continues behind closed doors.

We'll continue to bring you updates as we get them - stay with us.

Concluding his remarks, Xi says China and US can "jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries" as the world confronts tough problems.

He added that he wanted to "work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world."

Xi noted that Trump has been "very enthusiastic" about engaging in regional hot button issues, adding that he appreciates the US president's "great contribution" to the recent conclusion of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

"During your visit to Malaysia, you witnessed the signing of the Joint Declaration on peace along the Cambodia Thailand border, to which you had provided input," he said, adding that China has also been helping to manage the border dispute "in our own way".

Xi adds that "we have also been promoting peace talks to resolve other hotspot issues."

Xi says that he has "stated in public many times that China and the United States should be partners and friends".

"This is what history has taught us and what reality demands," he says through an interpreter.

Xi adds that he's ready to continue working with Trump to build a "sound atmosphere" for the development of both countries.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, travelling with the president

Here is the view from inside the room where the leaders of China and the US are holding a crucial trade meeting.

Xi is speaking now, saying that he has spoken on the phone with Trump three times since the latter's re-election and exchanged letters.

"It is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then," Xi says, adding that both countries should "stay the right course".

In brief remarks before they entered the bilateral meeting, Trump said he expects a "very successful meeting" with Xi, adding that both sides "have always had a good relationship".

Xi in response said it was "great to see" Trump.

The two leaders last met in person was in 2019, during the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

Image source, Reuters

After shaking hands for news cameras, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have kicked off their bilateral meeting.

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have just met.

As we've been reporting, they are expected to discuss a deal that could end the on-again-off-again trade war between the superpowers.

We will bring you the latest updates as we get them. Stay with us.

Anthony Zurcher
Travelling with the President

We are awaiting the Xi-Trump handshake.

The pool is set up in the entrance to the building where the bilateral meeting will take place. Two American and two Chinese flags are set up in front of a blue curtain.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Xi has just entered the building where the meeting is due to take place.