US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng was 'successful' as the two sides discussed trade, AI and critical minerals ahead of the Sept. 24 Trump-Xi summit.
Key facts
- Scott Bessent met with China's Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York.
- Talks covered trade, AI and critical minerals, according to CNBC.
- Bessent described the meeting as 'successful.'
- The talks precede a Trump-Xi summit scheduled for Sept. 24.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held high-level talks in New York, in a meeting aimed at setting the stage for a summit between President Trump and President Xi later this week, according to CNBC and Al Jazeera.
The discussions centered on trade, artificial intelligence and critical minerals, according to CNBC. These topics have been central points of engagement between the world’s two largest economies.
Following the meeting, Bessent described the talks as ‘successful,’ CNBC reported, signaling a constructive tone ahead of the leaders’ scheduled encounter.
Al Jazeera reported that the two officials met in New York for the high-level talks, framing the session as a precursor to the Trump-Xi meeting later in the week.
The Trump-Xi summit is scheduled for Sept. 24, according to CNBC. The pre-summit talks between Bessent and He Lifeng appear intended to help prepare the ground for those leader-level discussions.
The sources did not detail specific agreements or outcomes reached during the Bessent-He Lifeng meeting beyond Bessent’s characterization of it as successful.
Why it matters
Talks between senior US and Chinese officials on trade, AI and critical minerals carry significant weight for global markets and supply chains. A constructive tone ahead of a Trump-Xi summit could shape the economic relationship between the world's two largest economies.
Frequently asked questions
Who met with China's He Lifeng?
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York, according to CNBC and Al Jazeera.
What did the two sides discuss?
According to CNBC, the talks covered trade, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
When is the Trump-Xi summit?
The Trump-Xi summit is scheduled for Sept. 24, according to CNBC.