China, U.S. high-level economic, trade meeting starts in Geneva

China and the United States kicked off on Saturday a high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs in Geneva, Switzerland, Xinhua news agency reported.

As the Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, He Lifeng, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier, attended the meeting with the U.S. lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The meeting is taking place after weeks of growing tensions in which duties on goods imports between the world's two largest economies have soared far beyond 100%.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that an 80% tariff on Chinese goods "seems right", suggesting for the first time a specific alternative to the 145% levies he has imposed on Chinese imports, according to Reuters. 

He has suggested the discussions were initiated by China. Beijing said the U.S. requested the discussions and that China's policy of opposing U.S. tariffs had not changed.