President Lee Jae Myung (right) on May 13 shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. 

By Margareth Theresia

Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Lee Jae Myung has held meetings in Seoul with the top economic officials of the U.S. and China to coordinate the agenda for the U.S.-China summit.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung in a written briefing on May 13 said President Lee hosted separate talks at Cheong Wa Dae with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

President Lee said the development of stable Sino-U.S. ties will greatly help the advancement and prosperity of countries worldwide including Korea.

In his talks with Secretary Bessent, the president said, "The Korean and U.S. economies are showing signs of stability," adding, "We must communicate closely and further boost bilateral cooperation to keep this positive momentum going."

President Lee also asked the American official to work together to ensure that strategic bilateral investment lead to stronger cooperation in all sectors of the economy and strategy based on solid trust between both sides, as well as benefit the two countries.

To Vice Premier He, President Lee emphasized close communication so that both sides agree on the direction of bilateral ties and achieve concrete and tangible achievements in fields such as economy, industry, trade and culture.

The Chinese official said, "Even amid persisting global uncertainty, I am pleased to see positive development in Sino-Korean relations, with bilateral trade volume rising in the first half of this year as it did last year, based on the strategic leadership of the heads of states of both countries." 

He stressed the significance of Beijing's conclusion of trade negotiations with Seoul ahead of the U.S.-China summit.

On the morning of May 14 in Beijing, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral summit. The American leader arrived in the Chinese capital the night before for a three-day state visit.

margareth@korea.kr