Seoul: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to visit South Korea ahead of a critical summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as revealed in his recent social media post.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Bessent announced his itinerary on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that he will depart on Monday for meetings in Japan and South Korea. He specifically mentioned a stop in Seoul on Wednesday for discussions with China's Vice Premier He Lifeng before proceeding to Beijing for the summit. Diplomatic sources confirmed the U.S. official's brief visit to Seoul, though details of his meetings remain undisclosed.

While Bessent did not elaborate on whether his discussions with He Lifeng would occur in Seoul or provide specifics on his agenda with South Korean officials, it is anticipated that he will engage with Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and other senior officials. The discussions are expected to focus on the foreign exchange market and broader economic and financial issues of mutual interest.

Some local media reports indicate that no meetings with Koo or other South Korean officials have been scheduled due to Bessent's tight itinerary. Seoul's foreign ministry acknowledged ongoing communications with the U.S. to finalize arrangements for the visit, considering the brevity of Bessent's stay.

The ministry also noted its communication with China following Beijing's announcement of Vice Premier He's scheduled visit to South Korea, aimed at negotiating major bilateral trade issues before the Trump-Xi summit. In his post, Bessent emphasized the importance of economic security as national security and expressed his anticipation for productive engagements to advance President Trump's America First Economic Agenda.

The upcoming bilateral talks between Trump and Xi are scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Beijing.