‘Crucial’ for US, China to work together, Treasury chief Yellen tells Vice-Premier He Lifeng

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterates need to ‘closely communicate on areas of concern’ after first day of talks with Chinese economic tsar

Talks will seek to ‘provide appropriate responses to some key concerns’ in bilateral economic ties, CCTV quotes He as saying in Guangzhou

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US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng ahead of their meeting in Guangzhou on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:20pm, 5 Apr 2024Updated: 9:28pm, 5 Apr 2024

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen kicked off two days of talks with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng on Friday, stressing that it was “crucial” for Washington and Beijing to work together on global challenges.

The meetings aimed for “frank and substantive conversations” on the bilateral economic relationship, Yellen wrote in a brief post on X, formerly Twitter, following the first round of talks in China’s southern mega city of Guangzhou.

“It is crucial that the two largest economies in the world seek progress on global challenges and closely communicate on areas of concern,” she said.

In remarks ahead of the talks, Yellen stressed the importance of communication, saying that the three meetings she had had with He in less than a year were a “clear representation” of that.

“I believe we have taken up the challenge from our leaders to put the US-China relationship on a more solid footing,” she said, according to the US Treasury Department.

“As I have said, the United States seeks a healthy economic relationship with China that benefits both sides.”