Xi Jinping. The discussions in Paris between the world's top two economies were confirmed on Thursday by Washington, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent set to lead the US delegation. The diplomatic engagements come at a tumultuous time for the global economy, as energy markets are sent spinning from the impact of the US-Israeli war with Iran. Beijing is a close partner of Tehran and has condemned the killing of the former supreme leader, but it has also criticised Iranian strikes against Gulf states. "As agreed by China and the United States, (Vice Premier) He Lifeng... will lead a delegation to France from March 14 to 17 to hold economic and trade consultations with the US side," an unidentified spokesperson for Beijing's commerce ministry said in an online statement on Friday. The officials will "conduct consultations on economic and trade issues of mutual concern", the statement said, without giving further details about the timing or content of the talks. Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, declined to comment when asked about China's expectations for the talks at a news conference on Friday. (Bssnews)