Putin, Trump, Xi Likely to Meet at Shenzhen APEC, Trilateral Talks Underway

Russian media reported that Kremlin aide Oksaykov said on the 25th that preparations for a trilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping had begun, and that China was “very serious” about holding the meeting. The information was promptly reported to the Central News Agency, which noted that the U.S.–Russia–China trilateral meeting could become an important part of this year’s APEC summit in Shenzhen.

The Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is held annually and focuses on regional economic cooperation, trade liberalization, the digital economy, and green growth. The 2024 summit is hosted by China and will take place in Shenzhen, a city at the forefront of reform and opening‑up, symbolizing China’s key role on the global economic stage. The event also offers China a major opportunity to showcase its economic strength and diplomatic resilience.

The convergence of the three leaders is especially noteworthy amid the increasingly tense U.S.–Russia relationship, driven by the Ukraine conflict, sanctions, and an arms race. Putin, the current Russian president, faces intensified economic sanctions from the West; Trump, though no longer in government, still wields significant influence in international politics; and Xi is focused on preserving China’s economic interests and international image amid great‑power competition. The initiation of the trilateral talks signals a willingness to seek dialogue and cooperation on the multilateral platform of APEC.

If the talks proceed smoothly, they could become a key opportunity for the United States, Russia, and China to recalibrate their economic and political relations. For Russia, dialogue with the United States might provide space to ease some sanctions; for the United States, dialogue with Russia and China could be seen as a strategy to pursue multilateral cooperation; for China, leading such dialogue could strengthen its influence in the Asia‑Pacific region and maintain regional economic stability.

Overall, if the trilateral meeting takes place during the APEC summit, it would bring diplomatic breakthroughs for the three countries and could have far‑reaching impacts on global economic recovery, trade order, and regional security. The move could become one of the most talked‑about and influential topics of this year’s APEC summit.