Top economic officials from the United States and China are meeting in Paris this weekend for crucial preparatory talks ahead of a high-stakes presidential summit scheduled for later this month The meeting includes Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer Their primary objective is to prepare the ground for the summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, which is scheduled to take place in Beijing from March 31 to April 2, 2026
These discussions in a neutral European venue are described as the "last minute backstage priming and polishing" before the main diplomatic event The success of this quiet diplomacy is seen as essential for managing the tone and substance of the presidential encounter, ensuring the high-profile summit between the leaders of the world's two largest economies proceeds smoothly While the specific agenda items for the Paris talks have not been disclosed, their focus is on laying the necessary groundwork to facilitate a productive leaders' summit amid a complex global landscape
Mohsin Rana
