A much-awaited meeting between Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump is scheduled at the Gyeongju National Museum, occurring alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit taking place in the city, following Trump's arrival.
The presidential office has designated Trump's visit as an official state visit to Korea. He touched down at Gimhae International Airport in Busan at approximately 11:40 a.m. local time on Wednesday, where he received a formal reception that included an honor guard review and a ceremonial 21-gun salute.
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Presidential officials highlighted that this visit represents mutual visits between both leaders occurring within 147 days of the Lee administration's beginning, establishing an unprecedented brief timeframe. Trump has also achieved the distinction of being the first foreign leader to conduct two state visits to Korea.
The initial formal activity of the leaders' meeting will involve Trump's guided tour of the Gyeongju National Museum. Trump, escorted by a ceremonial royal guard parade, will initially meet with Lee. Both leaders will subsequently enter the museum to inscribe the guestbook and examine a display of Trump-themed artifacts, providing an opportunity for a short private discussion.
At the subsequent official reception ceremony, both presidents will inspect the honor guard and meet representatives from each delegation.
After these introductions, Lee will present Trump with Korea's most prestigious national honor, the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, acknowledging his role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to the Korean presidential office. This represents the first occasion such an award has been given to a US president.
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Following the formal proceedings, both leaders will visit a display showcasing the famous golden crown from the Silla period. Lee plans to give Trump a copy of this crown as a gift, representing a fresh chapter of harmony, mutual existence, and collective prosperity that each country aims to foster. This present takes its meaning from the extended period of peace during the Silla Kingdom.
The enhanced summit meal will bring together important government officials from both nations and will address numerous subjects such as commerce, financial partnerships, economic safety collaboration, updating of alliances, and stability in the Korean Peninsula region.
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Later, Lee will organize a formal dinner for presidential leaders at 6:30 p.m. to honor Trump and the other visiting heads of state from seven additional countries participating in the APEC gathering. Attendees will consist of government leaders from the US, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Thailand, and Singapore. These leaders are anticipated to participate in candid conversations regarding economic partnership throughout the Indo-Pacific area.