China is ready to deepen and improve ties with the UK
China is willing to improve and stabilize bilateral relations with the United Kingdom, as well as to cooperate more in the areas of infrastructure, trade, and investment. This was stated by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a Friday statement, citing their minister.
Wang Yi visited Britain for the first time since a decade on Thursday. He met with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and National Security Advisor.
Wang, in his meeting with Keirstarmer, the UK Prime Minister, said that China and UK must strengthen their strategic communication, increase mutual trust, and show responsibility as major nations.
"The recent China and UK financial dialogue has produced fruitful results and exchanges have resumed at all levels, demonstrating the potential for practical cooperation between both countries," Wang stated, referring to a economic and financial dialog between the nations held in Beijing last week.
After a period in which relations with China plummeted to their lowest levels in decades, the Labour government in Britain, which has been in power since July, made improving ties a priority of its foreign policy.
Starmer, Starmer’s spokesperson told reporters, told Wang that he wanted to have "consistent, respectful" relations with his country when he attended the meeting between Wang, and Jonathan Powell, Starmer’s National Security Advisor.
The spokesman stated that "he underlined his intent to build a consistent, respectful relationship between UK and China... including deepening the cooperation on trade and investment as well as other areas of mutual benefits."
He reiterated that as part of the regular and stable engagement with China, the UK government will engage in areas where we differ.
According to the Chinese translation, they also discussed strengthening their cooperation in dealing climate change, artificial Intelligence and clean energy.
The Chinese Ministry said that both nations have agreed to the next steps in bilateral exchanges and collaboration and will accelerate preparations for institutional discussions on economy and trade, as well as health and industrial cooperation.
Wang Wang, British Foreign Minister David Lammy, said that he had discussed international security with Wang as well as the conflict in Ukraine and Middle East.
Lammy, however, said that he will continue to confront China over the imprisonment of prodemocracy Hong Kong businessman Jimmy Lai and human rights as well as the sanctioning British parliamentarians.
Wang "comprehensively explained" China's position regarding the Ukraine war and called for "no escalation in hostilities and no fanning of flames", according the official news agency Xinhua.
Wang was quoted as saying that China supports a "balanced and effective European security architecture". Reporting by Muvija and Liz Lee from Beijing; Writing and editing by Catarina demony, William James, Sarah Young and Sachin Ravikumar
(source: Reuters)
