China said Wednesday it was in contact with Washington and Moscow over a possible meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin, raising the prospect of high-level diplomacy amid mounting geopolitical tensions. The discussions come as Trump’s Republicans lose control of both chambers of Congress, potentially complicating Washington’s foreign policy agenda.
The proposed trilateral meeting could take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, between November 18 and 19. Beijing has not confirmed that the summit will happen, and no agreed agenda or commitments from the three leaders have been announced.
“China is in communication on a China–Russia–U.S. heads of state meeting with relevant parties,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday. Separately, responding to the American midterm results, Mao said Beijing was “willing to continue working” with Washington to manage differences, expand cooperation, and maintain a strategically stable bilateral relationship.
The prospect of a trilateral summit emerges amid competing strategic interests among the three powers, including tensions over trade, security, and the war in Ukraine. Washington and Beijing remain economic rivals, while China’s relationship with Russia continues to complicate its dealings with Western governments. A meeting involving all three leaders could provide an opportunity to discuss areas of mutual concern, but fundamental disagreements would limit expectations of major breakthroughs. The Democratic takeover of Congress adds another dimension, giving Trump’s domestic opponents greater influence over oversight and spending while leaving the president substantial authority over diplomacy. Beijing’s response to the election suggests it intends to maintain engagement with the White House rather than recalibrate its approach around the congressional shift. China has also emphasized preventing renewed hostilities in the Middle East, another potential area of discussion given Washington’s military involvement and Beijing’s diplomatic interests.
For China, a summit hosted on its territory would offer an opportunity to demonstrate diplomatic influence at a time of uncertainty in U.S. politics. Whether the proposal develops into substantive negotiations will depend on confirmation from all three governments, the scope of any agreed agenda, and their willingness to address competing security priorities. (Agencies+EIR)
