Donald Trump to hold trilateral summit with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in China

US President Donald Trump will hold a trilateral summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Shenzhen, China, on November 19, 2026. The meeting is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. This high-level gathering aims to address critical international security concerns through direct dialogue between the three world leaders.

The summit will occur during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which is scheduled for November 18 and November 19, 2026. According to White House Spokeswoman Olivia Wells, the leaders will meet on the sidelines of the summit to discuss topics including the danger of global nuclear weapons. The trilateral discussions are expected to focus specifically on nuclear disarmament and the conflict in Iran.

Diplomatic agenda and meeting details

While the summit addresses major global security issues, US officials stated that the meeting is not intended to address the war in Ukraine. This distinction comes as the US currently follows separate negotiation tracks with Kyiv and Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. Additionally, US officials do not intend to discuss advanced chip technology export controls during the meetings with Chinese officials.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to the Philippines on Monday, November 16, to attend the ASEAN summit on Tuesday, November 17, before traveling to China. During the visit to China, President Donald Trump will hold a business lunch and a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting marks the fourth time the two leaders have met since President Donald Trump returned to office last year.

Summit participants and scope

The diplomatic mission includes several high-profile figures, though not all will participate in the formal trilateral discussions. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, will accompany President Donald Trump to China, but he will not participate in the trilateral meeting.

The focus on nuclear disarmament remains a central pillar of the upcoming discussions. "The discussions will cover many topics, including nuclear disarmament," President Donald Trump said. The meeting in Shenzhen represents a significant moment for international diplomacy as the three leaders attempt to navigate complex geopolitical tensions regarding nuclear proliferation and regional conflicts in the Middle East.

The scheduled meetings in Shenzhen will serve as a primary venue for discussing the stability of global security frameworks. By addressing nuclear disarmament and the situation in Iran, the leaders aim to establish a baseline for international cooperation during the broader Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Glossary

• Shenzhen — Shenzhen is a city in China. It serves as the location for the annual Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (CIEP).
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation — Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim. It promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
• ASEAN — ASEAN refers to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is an organization where member states have agreements regarding tourist visas for citizens visiting other member states.
• bilateral meeting — A bilateral meeting is a separate meeting held between two leaders. These meetings can occur within the week of a larger summit.