British Energy Secretary to visit China to restart energy discussions, sources say

Three sources who have direct knowledge of this plan say that British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is planning to visit China in march, where he will restart discussions on energy cooperation, and meet with Chinese investors. The Labour government wants closer ties with China amid the worsening U.S. and EU-China relationships.

Sources who are not authorized to speak with media said Miliband would visit Beijing from 17-19 March, which will be the first time that this is reported.

British officials said that they wanted to recalibrate some of the positions taken by the former Conservative Party-led Government on China. This includes accepting Chinese investment to create jobs and allowing Chinese companies to provide critical infrastructure such as nuclear power stations.

Two sources confirmed that nuclear power would not be on the agenda when Miliband and his Chinese counterpart Wang Hongzhi meet to revive the UK China Energy Dialogue on 17 March. Instead, collaboration in clean and sustainable energy as well as energy safety will be the main agenda.

One of the sources said that Miliband would also present Britain to Chinese investors in a roundtable discussion. His schedule is still being finalised.

In response to an inquiry for comment, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated that it would not comment on speculations about the Secretary of States travel. We will announce any plans as usual.

After a period in which relations with China plummeted to their lowest level in decades, the Labour government in Britain, in power since July, made improving ties a priority in its foreign policy.

After some British legislators expressed concern about China's involvement with the nuclear industry, Rishi Sunak, the then Prime Minister of England in 2022 signed a contract to provide around 700 million pounds (880 million dollars) for the purchase of China General Nuclear's stake in a nuclear project in England's south-west.

Britain has not followed the U.S. or Europe by imposing import tariffs on Chinese cars, despite accusations that its automakers receive unfair subsidies from their government and are overcapacity.

BYD, Chery and XPeng are all Chinese automakers that sell their cars into the UK.

BYD is also the manufacturer of London's red double-decker bus, while Geely's subsidiary makes the famous black taxis in London.

Miliband is the third Labour Minister to visit China after Keir starmer became Prime Minister. The previous two were Foreign Secretary David Lammy in October, and Finance Minister Rachel Reeves in January.

Sources said that Starmer will also visit China in this year. This is the first time a British leader has visited the country since 2018.

Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, made his first visit to Britain since a decade earlier this month.

Last week, it was reported that Britain had lined up a new Mandarin speaking diplomat to help repair its China relations.

China was Britain's fifth largest trading partner in 2014, accounting for 5.2% of UK exports. The world's second biggest economy imported 32 billion pounds ($40billion) of UK goods. Reporting by Joe Cash, Beijing; Editing and rewriting by Lincoln Feast and David Evans

(source: Reuters)