On June 20, Trump told Axios that he will return to China soon to attend a large-scale conference there.
Based on public information, the large-scale conference Trump referred to is almost certainly the informal APEC leaders' meeting in Shenzhen in November 2026.
Trump's statement indicates that despite existing differences between China and the United States, both sides are willing to move toward each other and work toward stabilizing bilateral relations. Recently, three positive developments have emerged in the economic and trade domain between the two countries: China has once again purchased American soybeans, both sides are negotiating a reciprocal tariff reduction plan worth $30 billion, and the U.S. has delayed adding over 100 Chinese companies to the Entity List. These concrete measures have paved the way for Trump’s potential visit to China, reflecting ongoing cooperation space between the two nations in areas such as economics, trade, and technology—and aligning with Trump’s consistent “transactional” pragmatic approach.
One of the major highlights of this APEC summit could be the potential "Putin-Trump meeting." Russian President Vladimir Putin has clearly confirmed his attendance at the Shenzhen APEC meeting, and Russia has publicly stated it does not rule out the possibility of a meeting between the heads of state during this period. The ball is now in the U.S. court—whether Trump attends remains the biggest mystery. If Trump shows up, the three heads of state from China, the U.S., and Russia will appear together on stage for the first time in seven years. This would not only mark a crucial direct contact between Russia and the U.S. since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, but also foreshadow a reconfiguration of the global power structure. As the host nation, China’s role as a central pivot in mediating global geopolitical crises will become even more prominent.
The signal Trump has sent regarding a possible visit to China reflects both a temporary stabilization in Sino-U.S. relations and a pivotal moment in global great-power competition. The November APEC summit in Shenzhen will serve as a comprehensive real-time stress test of the direction of Sino-U.S. relations, the thawing of U.S.-Russia ties, and the trajectory of American domestic politics. Whether Trump ultimately gives the green light will not only affect his own diplomatic legacy but will profoundly shape the global geopolitical landscape in the second half of 2026.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868486465349772/
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