US and China begin talks ahead of Trump-Xi summit

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP

Senior US and Chinese officials began talks in New York on Sunday aimed at preparing potential agreements ahead of a summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are leading the discussions, which are expected to focus on tariffs, artificial intelligence and supplies of critical minerals.

Bessent said ahead of the meeting that he expected "focused, fulsome and constructive talks" that would help pave the way for the Trump-Xi summit in Washington.

One of the key issues is the current US-China trade truce, which is due to expire on November 10. The two sides are also expected to discuss Chinese supplies of rare-earth magnets and critical minerals.

Artificial intelligence is another major focus, with Washington seeking discussions over safeguards for advanced AI systems and ways to reduce shared risks.

The talks follow a series of meetings between senior US and Chinese officials over the past 16 months aimed at managing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.

Trump and Xi are expected to discuss a broader range of trade and economic issues when they meet in Washington this week.

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