Scott Bessent confirms weekend meeting with He Lifeng days before Xi’s US visit

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday confirmed that he will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng this weekend for the final preparatory talks between the two sides, less than a week before Chinese President Xi Jinping travels to Washington for a bilateral summit with US President Donald Trump.

“With China, we have had some very good private discussions, and I look forward to those continuing this weekend when I meet my Chinese counterpart Vice [Premier] He Lifeng,” Bessent said during a House Financial Services Committee hearing.

Bessent was responding to a question about the alleged role of Chinese banks in facilitating commercial transactions with Iran and whether Washington planned to take action against them.

Bessent is expected to discuss the likely economic outcomes of the Trump-Xi summit and begin preparatory dialogue on artificial intelligence safety and governance.