Bessent Holds Talks With Chinese Vice Premier in South Korea

The talks are expected to set the stage for the high-stakes summit between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in China.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives at Incheon International Airport ahead of a scheduled meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and trade talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Incheon, South Korea, on May 13, 2026. Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a closed-door meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng shortly after they arrived in South Korea on May 13 for trade negotiations.

The meeting lasted three hours and was held under tight security at a VIP lounge at Incheon International Airport in Seoul after their respective meetings with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.