South Korea’s president Lee Jae Myung hailed his nation’s relationship with the United States in a CNN interview on Wednesday, pushing aside lingering trade concerns and welcoming President Donald Trump,

Southeast Asian foreign ministers have started talks ahead of a landmark ASEAN summit that will welcome East Timor as the bloc’s 11th member and mark U.S. President Donald Trump’s first trip to Asia since returning to the White House.

Trump has said that he will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia, which is Oct. 26-28, according to PBS News. The president then will travel to Japan, followed by South Korea.

Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell Wednesday as investors assessed trade data from Japan and the country's new leadership. Japanese exports in September snapped four months of declines, climbing 4.2% year on year, as shipments to Asia saw robust growth, partially offsetting the drop in exports to the U.S.

Trump's Asia summit tour includes meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other regional leaders as trade tensions with Beijing escalate.

Trump will meet Xi on Oct 30 in South Korea to discuss trade, Ukraine, Russia and nuclear arms. Tensions from China’s rare earth curbs prompted 100% tariffs and possible software export restrictions.