Potential Historic Meeting of Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin

Discussion of a Trilateral Meeting

Washington, Nov 7: For the first time, Beijing has acknowledged that it is in talks regarding a significant meeting involving Chinese leader Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During a press briefing in Beijing, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated that China is "in communication with relevant parties regarding a meeting between the three heads of state."

While no arrangements have been finalized, this potential gathering is expected to occur later this month during a regional summit in Shenzhen.

If realized, this meeting would be unprecedented. However, analysts suggest that substantial discussions are unlikely due to conflicting interests among the leaders, although a photo opportunity is anticipated, with China meticulously planning the event.

Sun Yun, director of the China programme at the Stimson Center, remarked, "I think it will happen. The question is the format and the content. China wants the image but not the costs."

This year, Beijing is hosting the leaders' summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, which includes both the US and Russia.

Trump is expected to visit Shenzhen for his third meeting with Xi this year, as they attempt to maintain a fragile trade truce that is set to expire in January.

In a sign of ongoing tensions, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently urged Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng during a video call to take "concrete actions to fully implement its past commitments, particularly regarding agricultural purchases, rare earths, and other critical minerals," according to a statement from Greer's office.

China's state news agency Xinhua reported that both sides had constructive discussions during the call, with China expressing concerns over Washington's restrictive economic measures against Beijing.

While in China, Trump has expressed interest in meeting Xi and Putin to discuss nuclear arms control, although Putin seems focused on the war in Ukraine without Kyiv's involvement.

According to Danny Russel, a former senior State Department official, "Putin has the most to gain from a leaders' trilateral, and the Russians are clearly behind the push for a meeting, which would be a diplomatic coup."

Russel, now a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, noted that Trump, who has a penchant for authoritarian leaders, would welcome the meeting, although his advisers have cautioned him to avoid discussing Ukraine.

Sun from the Stimson Center indicated that Russia might leverage the summit to align China and the US closer to Moscow's stance on Ukraine, while "China will have to manage Russian manipulation."

China is unlikely to engage in discussions about arms control or issues concerning Ukraine or Iran, aside from its diplomatic stance advocating for peace and the cessation of wars, Sun added.

Beijing's primary challenge may be managing perceptions. The summit "should not be equated to three great powers dividing up the world," she stated.

Ultimately, the meeting may serve primarily as a photo opportunity, allowing Putin to be seen alongside the leaders of the US and China, according to Craig Singleton, senior director of the China programme at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Singleton remarked, "But these photo opportunities have diminishing diplomatic returns. The spectacle may be historic without yielding any significant outcomes."