Key facts
- Shenzhen is preparing to host the Apec leaders' meeting in November.
- A potential trilateral summit between Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin is a focus.
- The city has implemented security measures and infrastructure upgrades for the event.
- Putin has indicated openness to a trilateral meeting but stressed the need for a defined agenda.
Shenzhen is undergoing extensive preparations to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders' meeting in November, with particular attention on the possibility of a high-stakes trilateral summit involving Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The city has implemented security measures, including a drone ban, and opened new hotels, while taxi drivers are equipped with advanced translation devices. This year's summit is considered especially significant due to the current geopolitical landscape, marked by the Russia-Ukraine war and intensified US-China competition. Russian President Putin has expressed willingness for a trilateral meeting, emphasizing the need to establish a clear agenda for negotiations. The three leaders previously appeared together at the 2017 Apec summit in Vietnam, where Xi and Putin held a bilateral meeting and Trump and Putin had a brief exchange.