He Lifeng, the main architect of Chinese economic policy and a trusted Xi Jinping acolyte. He should be front and center in any major trade negotiations to remedy the worsening trade war between the United States and China. He Lifeng to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer at their scheduled meeting next week in Switzerland. This first engagement is sure to be transformative for our foreign relations. At 70 years old, he remains an important connection between the two countries. He personifies China’s shifting approach to pursuing its goals in trade relations around the globe.
He Lifeng is the newly appointed US-China economic and trade overseer. In his six years since then, he’s cultivated a robust reputation as a prominent fixer for foreign investors. He’s proven he can skillfully handle prickly economic realities. His peers would tell you that many executives admire him for his ability to produce outcomes in results-oriented, high-stakes, oven-like environments. Over the last year, he repeatedly tells us he’s had 60 such meetings with foreign officials. This huge leap is testimony to his deepening appetite to interact with global stakeholders. This is no small change, given that he once served as a Communist Party Politburo member. At the time, he was shy to deviate from his prepared notes and timid to speak without translation due to the language barrier.
He Lifeng’s path to the highest reaches of Chinese politics took a fateful turn back in 2009. That year, he was promoted to neighboring Tianjin, the beginning of his political rise. There, he pushed through the nation’s largest urban renewal scheme, earning him the nickname “He the Demolisher.” His ambitious infrastructure projects won him praise and led to investigation. Perhaps even more than economic factors, they pointed towards Xi’s leadership skills and commitment to pushing through China’s economic agenda. All the while, he tightened his embrace with Xi Jinping. He went on to attend the President’s wedding and to become one of his most trusted young aides.
He Lifeng, who recently assumed the leadership of China’s macroeconomic planning agency, the National Development Reform Commission. In this capacity, he was instrumental in developing industrial policy. He has regularly sought to shield Beijing’s export-led development model in bilateral negotiations with foreign leaders. He received his PhD in economics from Xiamen University. This academic experience—as well as his diverse career path—has equipped him with a unique ability to understand the nuances of international markets and trade relations.
Future negotiations with U.S. officials are scheduled to begin in just weeks. Both countries are desperate to overcome a trade stalemate that threatens to derail their mutually beneficial economic futures. We hope to see these discussions focusing on how to remediate tariffs that have stressed bilateral trade relations. His continued presence at these discussions underscores that China is serious about seeking common ground. He now has an important say on the future of US-China economic relations.
He Lifeng’s evolution from a cautious bureaucrat to a confident negotiator reflects broader changes within the Chinese government as it adapts to the realities of global commerce. In part, that’s because he’s been actively engaging with foreign executives. From March 2023 to March 2024, the total increased from 45. This new trend marks a larger narrative of his personal maturity. Beyond that, it shows China’s strategic intent to deepen strategic ties with their global investors and enforcers.
As he prepares for the upcoming talks in Switzerland, He Lifeng’s track record suggests he will bring both experience and assertiveness to the negotiation table. And perhaps most importantly, he connects effortlessly to foreign stakeholders. This winning ability makes him an indispensable player in the conversation to quell escalating trade disputes. Observers will be keenly watching how these discussions unfold and whether He Lifeng can leverage his extensive experience to facilitate an agreement that benefits both parties.
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