Kremlin: High Possibility of US-China-Russia Summit at APEC

There is a possibility of a trilateral summit involving the leaders of the United States, China, and Russia during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China next month.

On September 29, Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to the Kremlin, stated in an interview with Russian state broadcaster Vesti that President Vladimir Putin plans to attend the APEC summit as scheduled. He added, "If the U.S. president also attends, it is highly likely that host President Xi Jinping will take steps to facilitate a trilateral meeting."

Ushakov noted that no agreement has yet been reached regarding the summit and that President Donald Trump's attendance is not confirmed. However, he expressed, "If the three leaders gather, I think it would be natural for them to hold talks."

Chinese officials have also expressed optimism about the possibility of a trilateral meeting. Zhang Hanhui, the Chinese ambassador to Russia, told the Russian daily Izvestiya that if a summit between Presidents Putin, Xi, and Trump is arranged during the APEC meeting, it would be "very beneficial."

Zhang emphasized, "If such a trilateral meeting can be realized, it would greatly contribute to the development and formation of a multipolar world." He noted that Russia, the United States, and China are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major global powers. He added, "The future of this world depends on us," highlighting the importance of cooperation between China and Russia in contributing to global economic development and maintaining peace and stability.

The possibility of a meeting among the leaders of the U.S., China, and Russia has been discussed since early this month. Ushakov had previously indicated on September 1 that, "If things proceed as planned, a meeting among the three could take place," suggesting the potential for a trilateral summit.

This year's APEC summit is scheduled to take place on November 18-19 in Shenzhen, China.

* This article has been translated by AI.