US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng this weekend as private talks continue ahead of an anticipated Xi–Trump summit in Washington on September 24. Bessent announced the meeting during testimony before the House Committee on Financial Services. Key issues expected at the summit include trade and tariffs, technological competition — notably AI — and China’s financial and oil ties with Iran. The outcome could shape bilateral relations and broader geopolitical dynamics.
US Treasury Secretary to Meet China’s He Lifeng Ahead of Anticipated Trump–Xi Summit
FILE PHOTO - US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks ahead of the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the G20 nations. (is associated with: «Bessent to meet Chinese vice premier ahead of Trump-Xi summit») Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday he will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng this weekend, just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to travel to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump on September 24.
Bessent announced the planned meeting while testifying before the US House Committee on Financial Services. He said confidential discussions between US and Chinese officials are already underway and that he looked forward to continuing those talks with Vice Premier He.
What’s Likely to Be on the Agenda
Officials expect the summit to focus on several high-stakes issues between the world’s two largest economies, including trade disputes, tariffs and technological competition — especially developments in artificial intelligence. US authorities have alleged that some Chinese companies used illicit means to obtain capabilities from US-developed AI models; Beijing denies those accusations and has warned against efforts to curb its technology sector.
Bessent also said the war in Iran and China’s financial and energy ties with Tehran are likely to be raised during the summit. China remains a key political and economic backer of Iran and is a major purchaser of Iranian oil, a fact that could complicate discussions given current geopolitical tensions.
Diplomatic Context
The visit by Xi has not been formally confirmed by Beijing; such high-level announcements are often made on short notice. Still, the meeting has generated intense diplomatic focus because it could shape cooperation and competition on trade, technology and global security matters going into next year.
Why it matters: A direct engagement between the leaders — and preparatory talks at the ministerial level — could influence tariffs, AI governance, and international responses to conflicts such as the war in Iran.
The meeting between Bessent and He this weekend will be watched closely by markets and policymakers for signs of progress or sticking points ahead of the anticipated Trump–Xi talks in Washington.
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