US-China ties: Treasury chief Bessent to meet He Lifeng in Spain; TikTok, national security and trade in focus

US treasury secretary Scott Bessent is set to hold talks with Chinese vice premier He Lifeng in Spain next week, with national security, economic and trade issues high on the agenda, the treasury department said on Thursday.

Bessent will be on a European trip from Friday until September 18 (local time), making stops in Spain and the United Kingdom. In Madrid, he will meet Chinese officials for discussions on "key national security, economic, and trade issues of mutual interest," according to a Treasury statement.


Among the topics listed are "TikTok and cooperating on money laundering networks that threaten both the United States and China," the department noted.

China’s ministry of commerce confirmed on Friday that Lifeng will lead a delegation to Spain for the talks, taking place from Sunday to September 17. In its own statement, Beijing said the discussions would cover "unilateral tariff measures, abuse of export controls and TikTok."

The talks come at a time of strained US-China relations, though tensions have eased slightly since April, when both countries imposed escalating tariffs on each other’s exports.

Back-to-back meetings between senior diplomats and defence chiefs from both nations on Wednesday have been seen by analysts as a possible step towards a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Trump said in August that he expects to travel to China this year or soon afterwards, highlighting improved economic ties between Washington and Beijing.

Earlier on Wednesday, US secretary of State Marco Rubio told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in a phone call that he sought constructive and open dialogue with China.

In a separate video call the same day, Chinese defence minister Dong Jun warned Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth that "containing, deterring, or interfering with China will be futile," according to state broadcaster CCTV.

"We must... build an equal, respectful, peacefully coexistent, stable and positive military-to-military relationship. We must respect each other's core interests," Dong said.

After the Spain talks, Bessent will continue to London for meetings with British government and business leaders before joining Trump’s official state visit with King Charles at Windsor Castle.