Britain's foreign secretary recently visited China in an effort to improve relations between the two countries. This visit marks the first by a Cabinet minister since the Labor government took office in July. During the trip, the foreign secretary met with Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and was scheduled to hold talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The purpose of the visit was to address various issues that have strained relations between the UK and China in recent years. These include allegations of spying, China's support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, and the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong. The foreign secretary emphasized the importance of engaging with China on both areas of contention and cooperation, highlighting the need for open and honest dialogue.
One key topic of discussion was China's alleged political and economic support for Russia's war efforts in Ukraine. The US recently sanctioned two Chinese companies for their involvement in assisting Russia with long-range attack drones. However, the Chinese Embassy in Washington denied these allegations, stating that they were false.
Additionally, the foreign secretary's visit included meetings with British business leaders in Shanghai. China, including Hong Kong, is a significant trading partner for the UK, ranking as the fourth largest. The visit aimed to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
Human rights groups have called on the foreign secretary to address China's human rights record, particularly concerning crackdowns on dissent in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. The spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the importance of securing the release of British citizen Jimmy Lai, who has been in custody since December 2020 and is set to testify in a national security trial next month.
