Beijing has confirmed for the first time that it is discussing a historic meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said this week that China "is in communication with relevant parties regarding a meeting between the three heads of state". Nothing has been settled, but the gathering would take place this month at the APEC leaders' summit in Shenzhen on 18 and 19 November.

If it happens, it would be the first time the three leaders have met together in a trilateral format. Experts caution, however, that the leaders are unlikely to discuss anything substantive because their interests are at odds, and the meeting may amount to little more than a photo opportunity.

What each leader wants from the meeting

Trump has said he would be interested in meeting Xi and Putin to discuss nuclear arms controls, while Putin is focused on the war in Ukraine. Russia would probably use the summit to nudge China and the US closer to Moscow's positions on Ukraine, said Sun Yun, director of the China programme at the Stimson Center, while China would have to manage what she called Russian manipulation.

Trump has been warned by his advisers to steer clear of Ukraine as a topic, said Danny Russel, a former senior State Department official.

Trade tensions persist ahead of Shenzhen

Trump is expected to travel to Shenzhen to meet Xi for the third time this year, maintaining a fragile trade truce that is set to expire in January. In a sign that tensions persist, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer urged Beijing in a video call on Friday to take concrete action on agricultural purchases, rare earths and other critical minerals.