Beijing seeks trilateral photo opportunity as experts warn clashing interests could limit substantive discussions
Beijing has confirmed for the first time that it is discussing a possible historic meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a regional summit in China this month.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing that China was “in communication with relevant parties regarding a meeting between the three heads of state”.
Although no final decision has been announced, the proposed trilateral meeting could take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders’ summit in Shenzhen, southern China.
If held, it would bring together the leaders of three major global powers at a time of mounting geopolitical tensions. However, experts believe the gathering is unlikely to produce substantive agreements, given the conflicting interests of Washington, Beijing and Moscow.
“I think it will happen. The question is the format and the content,” said Sun Yun, director of the China programme at the Stimson Centre. “China wants the image but not the costs.”
China is hosting this year’s Apec leaders’ summit, a grouping of 21 economies that includes the US and Russia.
Trump, Xi expected to discuss trade
Trump is expected to travel to Shenzhen to meet Xi for the third time this year, as both countries seek to maintain a fragile trade truce due to expire in January.
More from WorldHowever, tensions over trade remain unresolved. On Friday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held a video call with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, urging Beijing to take concrete steps to fulfil its previous commitments.
These included agricultural purchases, rare earths and other critical minerals, according to a statement from Greer’s office.
China’s state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday that the two sides had held in-depth and constructive exchanges during the conversation. It added that Beijing had raised concerns over Washington’s restrictive economic and trade measures against China.
Trump has also expressed interest in meeting Xi and Putin to discuss nuclear arms control. However, the proposed gathering could prove difficult, particularly over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Putin is keen to discuss the conflict, but Moscow’s position has focused on negotiations without Kyiv being involved.
Putin could gain most from trilateral meeting
Putin could benefit considerably from appearing alongside the US and Chinese presidents, potentially gaining diplomatic legitimacy at a time when Russia remains embroiled in the Ukraine war.
“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,” said Danny Russel, a former senior US State Department official who served under former President Barack Obama, reported by AP.
Russel, now a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Trump would also welcome the opportunity to meet the two leaders, although his advisers may have cautioned him against allowing Ukraine to dominate the discussions.
Sun said Moscow could use the gathering to push Washington and Beijing closer to its position on Ukraine, leaving China with the challenge of managing Russian diplomatic pressure.
She added that Beijing was unlikely to engage in substantive discussions on arms control or conflicts involving Ukraine and Iran, beyond reiterating its position that peace was important and wars should end.
China would also be keen to avoid the perception that the meeting represented an attempt by three major powers to divide the world among themselves, Sun said.
Craig Singleton, senior director of the China programme at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, said the gathering could amount to little more than a photo opportunity for Putin.
