Trump left the country on Thursday, after striking a trade deal with China earlier in the day. He also formalised a deal on tariffs with South Korea on Wednesday, after reaching a slew of trade agreements on the sidelines of a Southeast Asia summit in Malaysia earlier in his Asia trip.

Most Asia-Pacific countries want and are heading in the direction of free and open trade, a senior official at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) secretariat said, as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs overshadowed the forum's annual summit.

Amid trade tensions and sharp divisions, all eyes are on whether Apec leaders will be able to issue a joint communique when the annual meetings conclude on Nov 1. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures, while wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap, as he disembarks Air Force One, following his Asia trip, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

GYEONGJU, South Korea -Serving as an important bridge between the government and the private sector, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) will play a crucial role in sustaining the momentum of inclusive global economic growth through joint initiatives on digital economy,

President Lee Jae Myung and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation during summit talks. They met at the APEC summit.

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Thursday touted the country as an "ideal and safe" investment destination and urged nations to resist unilateral bullying. Wang, delivering a speech on behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit event in South Korea,

Prabowo stated that smuggling, money laundering, human trafficking, and narcotics can disrupt the regional economic stability.