Bessent Will Meet He Lifeng in New York
The Treasury Secretary and Chinese Vice Premier will convene for two days of talks ahead of a presidential summit.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in International Relations
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng will meet in New York on September 19-20 to discuss economic relations, artificial intelligence, and rare earth minerals. These discussions are intended to serve as a diplomatic precursor to a scheduled summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
Why it matters
The high-level discussions address critical risks surrounding uncontrolled artificial intelligence proliferation and safety failures. They also aim to reconcile strategic tensions between the two nations, particularly regarding China's dominance in rare earth mineral production.
The upcoming sessions encompass a two-day schedule focused on trade and technological oversight. The substance of the talks will emerge in the days following the conclusion of these meetings.
The players
Scott Bessent
Scott Bessent is the Treasury Secretary of the United States.
He Lifeng
He Lifeng is a Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States.
Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping is the President of the People's Republic of China.
Jamieson Greer
Jamieson Greer is a trade official expected to join the discussions in New York.
The details
The meetings will feature participation from Jamieson Greer and center on key economic concerns, including distillation techniques for artificial intelligence. US officials are specifically monitoring whether model distillation—the process of compressing large AI systems—might be used to circumvent existing export controls.
Timeline
Scott Bessent and He Lifeng will hold meetings in New York on September 19-20.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold a summit in Washington on September 24.
Political Context
Opposing viewpoints in Washington often highlight that relying on diplomatic talks is insufficient to counter China's total control over the global rare earth mineral supply. Critics argue that domestic investment in mining capacity is a necessary safeguard against the risks of supply chain leverage.
These talks may eventually influence future regulations on artificial intelligence exports and the cost of technologies reliant on rare earth minerals. Readers should watch for post-summit policy updates that could impact trade costs or the availability of advanced tech hardware.
The takeaway
The meetings represent a critical effort to manage technological and economic competition through structured diplomacy. Observers should look to the outcomes of the upcoming Washington summit to gauge the durability of these bilateral negotiations.
What happens next
The diplomatic timeline concludes with the high-level summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, which is officially scheduled to take place on September 24.
Further reading
For broader context on current diplomatic strategies, explore the International Relations section.
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