China’s ‘chief surplus officer’ He Lifeng heads to Switzerland for crunch talks with US
Vice Premier He Lifeng will lead China’s delegation in high-stakes trade talks with US officials in Switzerland, as tensions between the world’s two largest economies reach boiling point. — Reuters pic
Thursday, 08 May 2025 7:00 AM MYT
BEIJING, May 8 — Opposite US officials for talks on Saturday aimed at breaking a trade deadlock between the world’s top two economies will be He Lifeng, a longtime confidant of Chinese President Xi Jinping who has slowly cultivated a reputation as a key fixer.
The vice premier will meet in Switzerland with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer after weeks of escalating tensions that have seen both countries ramp up trade duties upwards of 100 per cent.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Xi to call him about a potential trade deal, but any off-ramp to the tensions had been expected to run through He, who oversees US-China economic and trade affairs.
Reuters interviewed 13 foreign investors and diplomats who met with He over the past year. They described the 70-year-old’s evolution from a stiff Communist Party apparatchik with non-existent English and a reluctance to stray from prepared remarks into a more confident figure who has impressed them with his ability to get things done.
When the leaders of some of the world’s largest companies flocked to Beijing for a business forum last month, many were left impressed by He, according to a US business person briefed on the encounters.
Most of the people spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential interactions with He, who also wields vast regulatory oversight over China’s sprawling financial sector.
The vice premier has held at least 60 meetings with foreigners in the past year, according to Reuters’ review of his public engagements. That marks a steady increase from 45 between March 2023, when he took office as vice premier, and March 2024.
No comments:
Post a Comment