White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told reporters during a press briefing that the meeting between Trump, Putin and Xi will take place at the conclusion of Trump's visit to Shenzhen, which coincides with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Before the trilateral talks, Trump is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Xi.
"The President has made it clear that he intends to discuss, among other issues, the reduction of nuclear weapons globally, the proliferation of which he considers highly dangerous," Wales said.
According to senior White House officials, Trump also intends to discuss Iran during the meeting. However, he does not plan to address the war in Ukraine, arguing that China is not directly involved in the negotiations concerning the conflict.
Officials stressed that no formal agreements are expected to emerge from the meeting. They described it as an initial discussion and noted that it will be the first time a Chinese leader has participated in talks on nuclear arms control at this level. Beijing has previously declined to engage in such discussions with Washington.
The meeting will take place at the end of Trump's four-day trip to the Philippines and China, where he is scheduled to attend summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and APEC. Trump is due to depart Washington on Monday and arrive in Manila on Tuesday evening, local time.
During his visit to the Philippines, Trump is expected to participate in a meeting of the Quad leaders, representing the United States, Australia, Japan and India. He is also scheduled to sign a trade agreement with Thailand, attend a special U.S.-ASEAN summit, and take part in a dinner with ASEAN leaders and other regional officials.
On Wednesday, Trump will be welcomed at the presidential palace in Manila during a state visit, followed by talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and a working lunch. The visit is expected to result in agreements and investment commitments in sectors including aviation, defense, energy and technology.
Later that day, Trump will travel to Shenzhen to attend an APEC leaders' dinner and a multilateral meeting of the forum's leaders. On Thursday, he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Xi, followed by a working lunch. According to the White House, this will be the third meeting between the two leaders this year.
A senior administration official described the trilateral talks as a "starting point" and the first discussion at the leadership level focused on the nuclear arsenals of the three countries. The official noted that China's nuclear arsenal is expanding more rapidly than that of any other country and said Beijing should therefore participate in such discussions.
The White House said no separate bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin has been scheduled. Officials also said there are no plans for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
According to administration officials, Elon Musk will accompany Trump during his visit to China, but no broader U.S. business delegation is planned. However, American business leaders are expected to attend the APEC business summit.
Officials emphasized that Musk will not participate in either the trilateral meeting or Trump's bilateral talks with Xi.
The bilateral meeting with Xi is expected to focus on the implementation of existing trade agreements. One administration official said the United States has been receiving Chinese rare earth minerals and related products more slowly than expected. The official said this was one reason why, during Xi's recent visit to Washington, the two sides agreed to extend their trade truce by two months rather than six months. Trump is expected to raise the issue during his talks with Xi.