China and the United States will meet in Beijing on Tuesday to restart discussions on curbing the production of ingredients for the powerful drug fentanyl.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid much stronger than heroin, has led to a surge in addiction in the United States, causing approximately 100,000 overdose deaths annually, particularly among those aged 18 to 49.

The aim for Washington is to persuade China to cooperate in cracking down on companies producing the precursor chemicals for fentanyl and to cut off funding for its trade.

The meeting on Tuesday will involve senior US officials from various departments including the State Department, Treasury, Department of Homeland Security, and Justice Department.

According to US officials, the meeting will serve as a platform for continued coordination to address the illegal production, funding, and distribution of drugs.

China has not disclosed the attendees from its side for the meeting. However, President Xi Jinping had promised to tighten control over the fentanyl trade during a summit with US President Joe Biden in November.

A US official mentioned that bilateral cooperation between the two countries on counternarcotics has been halted for years, hindering progress. Since the summit, China has taken steps such as shutting down a company, blocking certain international payments, and resuming sharing information on shipments and trafficking.

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