U.S. Treasury Secretary to Meet Chinese Vice Premier Ahead of Trump's Beijing Visit

Bessent and He Lifeng will hold trade talks in Paris as preparatory work for President Trump's state visit to China.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:12pm

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris on Sunday and Monday for a new round of trade talks, the Treasury Department announced. The meeting is seen as preparatory work for President Donald Trump's state visit to Beijing starting March 31, which will be the first for a U.S. president since Trump's trip in 2017.

Why it matters

The talks between Bessent and He are expected to provide clues about potential agreements that could be reached when Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, including whether China would purchase more U.S. products and how the two sides would manage the trade imbalance. The business community and analysts will be closely watching the discussions.

The details

Bessent and He have led trade negotiations between the U.S. and China since last year, having met in several locations. China has yet to announce the upcoming talks in Paris, which are seen as preparatory work for Trump's state visit that Beijing also has not confirmed. The White House has said Trump is traveling to meet with Xi, and the visit is widely believed to aim at keeping relations stable between the world's two largest economies.

  • The talks between Bessent and He will take place on Sunday and Monday (March 16-17, 2026).
  • President Trump's state visit to Beijing is scheduled to start on March 31, 2026.

The players

Scott Bessent

U.S. Treasury Secretary who will meet with the Chinese Vice Premier in Paris.

He Lifeng

Chinese Vice Premier who will meet with the U.S. Treasury Secretary in Paris.

Donald Trump

President of the United States who will visit Beijing starting March 31, 2026.

Xi Jinping

President of China who will meet with President Trump during his state visit.

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What they’re saying

“'Thanks to the bonds of mutual respect between President Trump and President Xi, the trade and economic dialogue between the United States and China is moving forward. Under the guidance of President Trump, our team will continue to deliver results that put America's farmers, workers, and businesses first.'”

— Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary (wbal.com)

“'What the two sides need to do now is to make thorough preparations accordingly, create a suitable environment, manage the risks that do exist and remove unnecessary disruptions.'”

— Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister (wbal.com)

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