Leaders of the United States, Russia and China are expected to attend the APEC leaders' economic summit, scheduled for 18–19 November in Shenzhen, China. The participation of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping would make the meeting one of the most important gatherings of world leaders this year, although a trilateral discussion between the three has not been officially confirmed.
Shenzhen is one of China's most important technology centres, considered the headquarters of companies such as Huawei, Tencent and BYD. China is hosting APEC for the third time, after the editions in Shanghai in 2001 and Beijing in 2014. The summit brings together 21 economies, which represent approximately 62% of global gross domestic product and nearly half of global trade.
APEC decisions are taken by consensus, and the commitments made are voluntary, not legally binding. This framework means that the concrete results of the meeting depend largely on the willingness of participants to reach agreements on the sidelines of the formal discussions.
The informal agenda of the meeting is primarily dominated by the war in Ukraine. According to reporting notes, Washington and Moscow are motivated to move towards peace negotiations, while Beijing is less directly involved. A possible Trump–Putin–Xi discussion could also address the control of nuclear weapons, a subject China has so far rejected, citing an arsenal much smaller than those of the United States or Russia.
The latest round of trilateral talks, mediated by the United States, took place in Abu Dhabi, and Europe is set to join the next round. A humanitarian exchange of prisoners, which could be the largest since the start of the war, is also being negotiated between the parties. However, a final peace agreement has not yet been reached, and the differences between the parties remain significant.
The conflict in the Middle East adds another stake to the meeting. Tensions in the region increase risks for energy supplies and maritime transport routes. Higher energy and transport costs could fuel inflation in economies dependent on imports.
Economic rivalry between the United States and China remains another central point. The two sides have difficulties in complying with an extension of the trade truce, and the likely topics of discussion include customs tariffs, access to rare earths and the development of artificial intelligence. American arms sales to Taiwan remain a sensitive issue for Beijing.
China's relations with Japan are strained following statements by Prime Minister Takaichi in November 2025 regarding a possible military response in the case of Taiwan. At the same time, China and the Philippines continue to dispute parts of the South China Sea, an area where regional tensions remain high.