S. Korea Engages US, China in Separate Meetings Ahead of Trump–Xi Summit

2026-05-14 02:34:24

(MENAFN) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held separate meetings on Wednesday with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Seoul, as diplomatic activity intensifies ahead of the expected summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During discussions with Bessent, Lee emphasized the importance of strengthening economic cooperation between Seoul and Washington amid rising global uncertainty, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

He reportedly called for deeper collaboration in key sectors such as critical minerals, supply chain stability, and foreign exchange markets.

In a separate meeting with He Lifeng, Lee urged expanded cooperation between South Korea and China across trade, industry, economic development, and cultural exchange.

According to reports, the Chinese vice premier noted that bilateral trade has continued to grow this year and reaffirmed Beijing’s interest in further strengthening economic ties with Seoul.

Later in the day, Bessent and He held separate US–China economic and trade discussions in Seoul as preparations continue for the anticipated Xi–Trump summit.

MENAFN14052026000045017640ID1111113254

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.