The foreign minister of the United Kingdom is scheduled to visit China in order to repair the strained relationship.
David Lammy, the British foreign secretary, will embark on a two-day visit to China on Friday in an effort to enhance bilateral relations following years of tensions stemming from security concerns and purported human rights violations. According to a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Lammy will engage in discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing prior to his visit to Shanghai, where he will meet with British enterprises that are operating in China.
"It is imperative to establish a consistent, long-term, and strategic approach to managing the United Kingdom's stance on China," the spokesperson stated to reporters. He also stated that the United Kingdom was prepared to challenge China when necessary, while also identifying opportunities for collaboration. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated that the discussions would concentrate on enhancing collaboration in a variety of sectors. It will be the second visit by a British foreign minister in six years, following the voyage made by Lammy's Conservative predecessor, James Cleverly, last year.
A British foreign minister had not visited China in five years prior to that. In response to disputes regarding human rights, Hong Kong, and allegations of Chinese surveillance, Labour, which emerged victorious in the July election, is endeavoring to establish a more harmonious relationship with Beijing. In their initial conversation in August, Starmer expressed his desire for Britain and China to establish more robust economic relations while maintaining the freedom to discuss their differences openly. Last month, Vice Premier He Lifeng of China and British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves engaged in a conversation regarding the potential for collaboration to stimulate economic development.
After the discussion, Beijing expressed its readiness to reestablish the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue, an annual forum for discussions on trade, investment, and other economic matters that had not yet occurred since 2019. Britain expressed apprehension regarding China's treatment of individuals in its western Xinjiang region and its restriction of civil liberties in Hong Kong, which was under British control until 1997, during the previous Conservative government. Additionally, Britain and China exchanged accusations regarding alleged espionage. According to data from the British government, China is the sixth-largest trading partner of the United Kingdom, representing 5% of the overall commerce.
