Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly considering hosting a high-profile trilateral summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a military parade in Beijing this September, according to The London Times.
The event, scheduled for September 3, commemorates the end of World War II. Putin has already accepted Xi’s invitation, and sources cited by the British newspaper say an official invitation to Trump is under consideration. The goal would be to bring the three leaders together for the first time since 2018 and stage a symbolic gesture of geopolitical weight.
Xi and Trump have previously exchanged invitations to visit each other’s countries, but no concrete plans were ever set. The upcoming parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat, could serve as the diplomatic pretext for a summit.
Nationalist Chinese commentator Jin Canrong, closely aligned with the Communist Party, confirmed the idea to The Times: “Why not align Trump’s visit with the September 3 parade? If President Trump visits China and attends the parade on September 3, it would send a strong, positive signal to the world. The image of the Chinese, Russian and American leaders standing together could be a powerful message of peace and stability.”
Xi seeks to reinforce ties with Moscow by commemorating the two nations’ roles as WWII victors. But the possible presence of Trump would allow China to present itself as a global broker in a multipolar world, positioning itself alongside the United States and Russia on an equal footing.
Taiwanese analyst Wen-Ti Sung suggested that the move could also serve domestic purposes. “It would shift public attention away from internal political tensions and economic headwinds,” he said.
From Trump’s perspective, a high-level appearance in China fits well with his personalized approach to diplomacy. “A visit to China, and a meeting with Putin and Xi, would appeal to Trump’s highly personal approach to leadership. It would also reassure both Xi and Putin, who have seen the humiliation Trump has meted out to national leaders visiting Washington and would see a summit in Beijing as a way of controlling both the agenda and the political messaging,” The Times reported.
As of now, no formal invitation has been issued to Trump. But the Kremlin said the possibility of a meeting is not off the table. “If [Trump] is there, then, of course, we cannot rule out that the question of the expediency of holding a meeting will be raised,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He added, however, that “it would require a lot of preparation, and the time has not yet come.”
Putin and Xi last met on May 8 in Moscow, where they spent four days together during Victory Day celebrations. Their statements were cordial and avoided direct references to the war in Ukraine.
Trump, by contrast, has had limited direct contact with either leader in recent months. He had floated the idea of visiting Türkiye for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine on May 16 but ultimately did not attend. He later told reporters he would meet with Putin “as soon as it can be arranged.” Russian officials are said to be awaiting clear signals from Trump’s campaign or Washington.
According to Russian state outlet RT, the idea of a Trump–Putin meeting in Beijing remains “on the table.” One source close to the Kremlin told RT: “The door is ajar, but it all depends on Trump’s willingness to travel and the timing set by Beijing.”
Trump and Putin last met in person in July 2018, during the U.S.–Russia summit in Helsinki. Since then, they have spoken only by phone, mostly regarding the conflict in Ukraine. In a recent call, Trump reportedly criticized Putin for “resisting a settlement.” The Kremlin, RT said, responded “calmly” and “intends to maintain dialogue with Washington.”
Perhaps more significant was a call between Trump and Xi in early June, initiated by the White House. The contents of the conversation were not disclosed, but according to Chinese sources, Xi reiterated his invitation. Trump’s response remains unknown.
