United States President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia on Sunday for the start of a five-day Asian tour encompassing Japan and South Korea.
This marks his longest trip abroad and first regional visit since assuming office in January.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials commenced talks in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.
The discussions seek to prevent further trade war escalation following Trump's threats of 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods starting November 1.
China has responded by expanding export controls on rare earth magnets and minerals.
A U.S. Treasury spokesperson described the initial talks as very constructive, with sessions expected to resume Sunday morning.
The negotiations involve U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
They aim to address disruptions to a prior truce that had reduced tariffs and restarted magnet flows.
The officials are working to facilitate a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.
Potential topics include interim tariff relief, technology controls, and Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans.
Trump has indicated he will raise issues concerning Taiwan, Russia, and the release of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai.
“We have a lot to talk about with President Xi, and he has a lot to talk about with us,” Trump told reporters before departing.
The talks follow U.S. expansion of export blacklists covering thousands more Chinese firms and China's rare earth restrictions announced October 10.
A 90-day truce from May had lowered U.S. tariffs to about 55 percent and Chinese to 30 percent but frayed in September.
Trump's administration initiated a new probe Friday into China's compliance with the 2020 Phase One trade agreement.
In Malaysia, Trump is set to meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and may oversee a ceasefire signing between Thailand and Cambodia.
The agreement formalizes an end to border fighting that erupted in July.
Trump credited Anwar for mediation efforts and previously threatened to withhold trade deals if hostilities continued.
The ASEAN summit also features leaders including Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
ASEAN is considering election observers for Myanmar's planned polls under military rule, amid calls from Human Rights Watch to reject them.
In South Korea, thousands protested Trump's tariff policies ahead of the APEC summit.
Lula seeks discussions on U.S. tariffs on Brazilian imports tied to prosecutions of former President Jair Bolsonaro.