What to Expect from the Historic Trilateral Meeting of Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin?

Trilateral Meeting on the Horizon

Beijing/Washington: An unprecedented trilateral meeting is scheduled for next week involving Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This significant event will take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, as confirmed by the White House.

The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is set for November 18-19, where leaders from the 21-member group will convene.

The agenda for the trilateral discussions is expected to cover a variety of pressing global issues, including ongoing conflicts, advancements in artificial intelligence, and the reduction of nuclear arms.

Concerns regarding nuclear weapons have intensified following the expiration of the New START treaty between the US and Russia in February, which had previously imposed legally binding limits on their nuclear arsenals.

According to White House spokesperson Olivia Wales, President Trump intends to address the global reduction of nuclear weapons, emphasizing the dangers of their proliferation.

Reports from the South China Morning Post suggest that the talks may also delve into regulating artificial intelligence within nuclear arsenals as part of a broader governance strategy.

The three nations have engaged in extensive discussions to finalize the meeting's agenda and protocols.

Iran's situation may also be a topic of conversation, given China's status as Iran's largest trading partner and its significant role in the oil market.

A senior US official indicated that the ongoing war in Ukraine would not be part of the trilateral discussions, as Washington is pursuing separate negotiations with Moscow regarding the conflict.

China has maintained strong economic ties with Russia since the latter's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with bilateral trade increasing despite Western sanctions.

There are currently no plans for a bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin, and the US has no intentions of engaging with North Korea during this trip.

Trump is expected to arrive in Shenzhen on Wednesday for the two-day APEC summit, where he will also hold bilateral talks with Xi on Thursday. This will mark their fourth meeting since Trump resumed office in 2025 and their third encounter this year.

Earlier this year, Trump visited Beijing for extensive discussions with Xi and hosted him in Washington during a state visit in September.

Despite their efforts to foster stable relations through these meetings, significant differences remain unresolved, particularly regarding trade disputes, competition in artificial intelligence, and tensions surrounding Taiwan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed that China is in communication with both the US and Russia regarding the trilateral meeting.

Mao highlighted that the theme for the APEC summit is 'Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together.'

She expressed hopes for collaborative efforts to adopt the Shenzhen Declaration during the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, aiming for tangible outcomes in crucial areas such as trade, connectivity, digital economy, and artificial intelligence.

The APEC member economies include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.

Notably, no South Asian economy, including India, is part of APEC.

Shenzhen, located in southern Guangdong province and adjacent to Hong Kong, has evolved into a leading technology and manufacturing hub in China. Designated as one of the country's first Special Economic Zones in 1980, it has become a center for technological innovation and manufacturing.