Will the US and China reach a trade deal? Xi Jinping and Trump will meet in South Korea.

News Topical, Digital Desk : A new round of trade talks between China and the United States began in Malaysia on Saturday, representatives from both countries confirmed. The talks come ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week.

China's Ministry of Commerce had previously announced that Vice Premier He Lifeng would be in Malaysia until Monday for talks with US representatives. On Saturday, AFP reporters saw He Lifeng and his entourage entering Merdeka 118 , the world's tallest building , where the meeting was held.

The Chinese and American delegations entered through separate entrances.

They entered through the lobby without speaking to the media, while the US delegation entered the building through a separate entrance. Building staff said the two teams were meeting on the 92nd floor.

The world's two largest economies are now trying to prevent a further escalation of the tariff war. US President Trump will meet with Xi Jinping in South Korea next Thursday. Trump has said he wants to reach a good deal, although he had previously threatened to cancel the meeting. The meeting will take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC) summit, which begins on October 31.

Trump's threat against China

On Saturday, a US Treasury spokesperson said that talks had begun in Kuala Lumpur, while China's state-run Xinhua news agency also confirmed that the two sides had begun negotiations. China recently imposed new controls on the rare earths industry, prompting Trump to threaten 100 % tariffs on imports from China.

In addition, both countries have begun imposing arrival fees on each other's ships. This move came after a US Section 301 investigation found Beijing's control over the industry was unfair .

Read More: Another 6.7 magnitude earthquake strikes Japan, tsunami warning issued for northeastern coast