Beijing has confirmed for the second time that it is holding talks about a historic meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and US President Donald Trump.
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China confirms talks for a possible meeting between Xi, Trump, and Putin in Shenzhen, Russia Today
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China is "in contact with relevant parties about a meeting of the three heads of state."
Reports suggest the meeting will take place this month during the Shenzhen summit in southern China,
and that the three leaders will not discuss substantive issues due to conflicting interests, but will meet for a group photo.
Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said: "I think the meeting will take place. The question is what the meeting will look like and what it will be about. China wants the image, but without bearing the costs."
China will host the leaders' summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which has 21 members, including the United States and Russia.
Trump is expected to travel to Shenzhen to meet with Xi for the third time this year, to maintain the fragile trade truce that is due to expire in January.
