Despite renewed trade tensions between the US and China, Trump struck an optimistic tone ahead of a possible meeting next week with Chinese president Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in South Korea, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported.

“We’re going to have a fair deal. I want to be good to China. I love my relationship with president Xi,” Trump said at the White House during a lengthy exchange with reporters after a meeting with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese.

“We thought that would be a good place to meet, and we’re going to be meeting. I’ll be in Malaysia, I’ll be in Japan,” Trump said about his trip to Asia.

This is the first time Trump has publicly spoken about his plans to visit Malaysia and Japan as well. However, he did not provide further details.

Japanese government sources said Trump is expected to make a three-day visit to Japan from Oct 27 after travelling to Malaysia for the Asean Summit.

As Asean chair, Malaysia is set to host the 47th Asean Summit from Oct 26-28, with invitations extended to several world leaders including Trump, Russian president Vladimir Putin, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Trump is expected to travel to South Korea after his visit to Japan, the sources said. The Apec summit is scheduled to be held in the city of Gyeongju, South Korea, from Oct 31 to Nov 1.

The upcoming trip to Asia will be his first visit to the region since beginning his second term in January.