Trump eyes potential Xi meeting at Apec as US-China diplomacy shifts

President Donald Trump has indicated a potential visit to China for a significant conference, possibly the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit scheduled for November 18-19 in Shenzhen. This announcement, made on Friday, suggests the possibility of up to four face-to-face meetings between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2026, a level of engagement described as unprecedented.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Tuesday that Trump may travel to China in November 2026 for the Apec summit. Bessent expressed optimism about the relationship between the leaders, stating that while the US and China will remain rivals, there are areas where they can cooperate. He also noted that Chinese purchases of US soybeans are on schedule, addressing a key concern for the Trump administration.

Trump has historically skipped Apec gatherings, but his attendance this year would mark him as the first sitting US president to visit Shenzhen. The potential for frequent high-level meetings comes as China, under Xi Jinping, positions itself as a champion of global free trade, contrasting with Trump's "America First" policies and tariffs. At a previous Apec summit, Trump and Xi met, reaching agreements to ease trade tensions, including potential tariff reductions and Chinese purchases of US soybeans.

While Trump's presence at multilateral forums has been inconsistent, China has sought to leverage the uncertainty created by his policies to enhance its global trade influence. Xi Jinping has called for practicing "true multilateralism" and updating international trade rules to benefit developing countries.