• Bessent and He Lifeng hold talks at the airport.
• Each met South Korean president separately.
• Talks to set stage for Trump-Xi summit in Beijing.

INCHEON, South Korea: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng started talks in South Korea on Wednesday to lay the groundwork ahead of this week’s summit of the leaders of the world’s two biggest economies in Beijing.

Bessent and He began the talks at Incheon airport after each met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the presidential Blue House, Reuters witnesses said.

The discussions are expected to cover a range of issues to prepare for talks in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping that are set to run from Thursday to Friday.

The talks between Bessent and He were likely to be exploratory with limited immediate outcomes, said Kim Tae-hwang, a professor of international trade at Myongji University in Seoul.

“Both sides are essentially in a holding pattern ahead of the summit, sounding each other out, rather than seeking breakthroughs,” he said.

China’s lead trade negotiator, Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang, and Vice Finance Minister Liao Min were among the officials accompanying He.

At the Beijing summit, the leaders are expected to agree to set up forums to ease mutual trade and investment, while China is expected to announce purchases related to Boeing aeroplanes, American agriculture and energy, US officials have said.

Beijing also wants the United States to relax curbs on exports of advanced semiconductors, and has raised concerns about a bill to keep critical chip-making equipment from China.

They are considering extending a truce on China’s export curbs on rare earths at the summit, but Chinese customs data shows Beijing is still throttling shipments of the materials vital for defence and manufacturing.

The summit talks may also encompass the Iran war, as China, which maintains ties with Iran, is a major buyer of its oil.

Trump said on Tuesday, however, he did not think he would need China’s help to end the conflict, even as hopes for a lasting peace deal dwindled and Tehran tightened its grip over the Strait of Hormuz.

Neither side has strong incentives to make early concessions, however, said Kim, the academic, adding that the United States is unlikely to ease curbs on key technologies such as semiconductors.

China, in turn, buoyed by relatively resilient growth and trade performance, is under less pressure to offer significant compromises, he said.

Conan O’Brien is set to pull off a hosting hat trick, returning to lead the Academy Awards for a third consecutive year in 2027. 

The Academy made the announcement on Tuesday, 12 May, confirming the 63-year-old comedian will front the 99th annual Oscars. 

This rare move follows O’Brien’s critically acclaimed turns in 2025 and 2026, which saw the ceremony’s television ratings reach a five-year high.

The decision to bring back the former Late Night star was met with high praise from industry leaders. 

Craig Erwich, President of Disney Television Group, noted that Conan has created “remarkable energy” around the broadcast, describing his comedic voice as a key factor in making Hollywood’s biggest night one of the year’s most entertaining celebrations. 

O’Brien will be reunited with executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, who are returning for their fourth straight year and have lauded him as a “true creative partner.”

O’Brien has famously joked about his recurring role, previously quipping that the only reason he accepted the 2026 gig was to hear actor Adrien Brody finally finish his record-breaking acceptance speech. 

Beyond the jokes, however, the role holds a deeply personal meaning for the host. 

O’Brien has shared that watching his late father, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, laugh at Johnny Carson hosting the Oscars was a formative experience.

Following his father’s death in December 2024, O’Brien admitted that being part of that same legacy feels like an amazing “cosmic” link to his dad.