US and China officials to meet in Beijing this week, furthering economy talks

Talks are part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to maintain channels of communication with its key geopolitical rival

Discussions to cover topics including macroeconomic outlook, investment-screening regimes and coordination on debt and climate change, officials said

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Officials from the US and China are to meet this week, with the global economy, investment-screening regimes, debt and climate change among the topics expected to be discussed. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 1:51am, 6 Feb 2024Updated: 2:45am, 6 Feb 2024

US and Chinese officials will hold talks on economic issues in Beijing this week, in the latest round of re-engagement between the world’s two largest economies.

A five-person delegation from the US Treasury will meet Chinese counterparts, according to a Treasury official who asked not to be named.

The discussions mark another round of the “economic working group” established last year, and will cover topics including the macroeconomic outlook, the two countries’ investment-screening regimes and coordination on debt and climate change, the official said.

The talks are part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to maintain channels of communication with its key geopolitical rival, especially on shared challenges, while also pursuing policies to protect its national security.

US-China relations improved in the second half of 2023 after a rocky start to the year, with Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping meeting in November in an effort to stabilise ties.

However, the question of Taiwan, the actions of mainland China and the US in the South China Sea, and issues including trade and export controls remain as major areas of contention.