Beijing, China - China's Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing's top trade negotiator, will visit the US this week ahead of a crucial summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, state media reported.
The leaders of the world's two biggest economies are due to meet at the White House on September 24 in a bid to ease tensions over trade, technology, and broader strategic issues.
While both sides have maintained a tariff truce for nearly a year, they have yet to secure a lasting agreement or a widely positive relationship.
He will lead a Chinese delegation to the US from September 19 to 23 for consultations on "economic and trade issues of mutual concern," China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported, citing Beijing's Ministry of Commerce.
The talks will be guided by the "important consensus" reached by the two leaders, according to the ministry.
Beijing's confirmation of the trip comes after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested this week he may meet with He over the weekend to hash out details ahead of the Xi-Trump summit this coming Thursday.
Bessent suggested the discussions could also touch on Iran, whose close economic ties with China have long been a source of friction between Washington and Beijing. Trade issues are, however, expected to take center stage when Xi and Trump meet.
The world's two largest economies reached a fragile truce in October 2025 after months of tariff tensions triggered by Trump following his return to the White House.
While the agreement helped cool fears of a damaging trade escalation, negotiators on both sides have yet to reach a comprehensive settlement, leaving key disputes unresolved.