BEIJING, Oct 27 — China’s foreign minister warned today that “a multipolar world is coming,” in what appeared to be a veiled jab at Washington ahead of key talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Global markets are watching closely to see if Thursday’s planned meeting between the two leaders can halt a trade war sparked by the sweeping tariffs Trump announced after returning to office this year.

Speaking at a forum in Beijing today, Wang Yi urged “an end to politicising economic and trade issues, artificially fragmenting global markets, and resorting to trade wars and tariff battles.”

“Frequently withdrawing from agreements and reneging on commitments, while enthusiastically forming blocs and cliques, has subjected multilateralism to unprecedented challenges,” Wang said, without naming specific countries.

“The tide of history cannot be reversed and a multipolar world is coming,” he added.

Trump began a tour of Asia yesterday, which is set to culminate in a meeting with Xi in South Korea — the first face-to-face talks between the two leaders since the US president began his second term in January.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng have already held two days of trade talks, seeking an agreement to avoid additional 100 per cent tariffs due to come into effect on November 1.

China’s Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang said a “preliminary consensus” had been reached.

Bessent told ABC that the extra tariffs had effectively been averted, and signalled a deal on rare earths and American soybean exports had been reached. — AFP