US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, the Treasury said Monday, ahead of an economic summit in San Francisco where the countries' leaders are expected to convene.

Yellen will host He for two days of bilateral meetings, at "a time of more intensive diplomacy" aimed at stabilizing ties and helping with progress on economic issues, the Treasury Department said in a statement.

The talks on Thursday and Friday come before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which is anticipated to serve as a backdrop for President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to meet.

The White House has said Biden is aiming for "constructive" talks with Xi -- set to be their first since they met in Bali in Indonesia November 2022.

The world's two biggest economies have had tense relations as they vie for influence in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, and as Beijing boosts cooperation with Russia in a bid to reduce US dominance.

But a number of high level US officials have visited China in recent months, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as Treasury and Commerce Secretaries Janet Yellen and Gina Raimondo.

Yellen's planned meetings with He come after "significant strides" in deepening communication between the two countries, the Treasury said Monday.

In their upcoming meetings, both sides are expected to share views on their respective economies and the global economy, said a Treasury official on condition of anonymity.

Yellen is also anticipated to raise concerns on economic practices such as barriers to market access, and discuss issues relating to national security concerns, the official added.

There are also plans to speak on challenges like climate change and debt distress, seeking areas of cooperation, the official said.

AFP