LONDON:Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Britain on Thursday for his first official visit in a decade, engaging in discussions with the British prime minister, foreign secretary, and national security adviser.
During a brief meeting with Wang, Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized his commitment to fostering “consistent and respectful” UK-China relations. Starmer, who joined Wang’s scheduled discussion with National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, reiterated his government’s intent to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, and other shared interests, according to his spokesperson.
“The prime minister expressed his desire to establish a steady and respectful relationship with China,” the spokesperson stated. “He also reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to engaging openly on areas of disagreement while ensuring stable and ongoing dialogue with China.”
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy highlighted key topics covered in his conversation with Wang, including global security issues, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Lammy also stated that he would continue to raise concerns about China’s human rights record, the imprisonment of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, and Beijing’s sanctions on British lawmakers.
Since taking office in July, the Labour government has prioritized rebuilding diplomatic ties with China, seeking to mend relations that had significantly deteriorated under previous Conservative administrations.
