British Foreign Secretary David Lammy made his first visit to China since the Labour Party took power and expressed readiness to improve bilateral relations, BTA reported.
After winning the parliamentary elections, Labour announced that "Britain is returning" to the world stage after years of retreat under the Conservatives. But when it comes to China, the government is moving nervously and on tiptoes, the BBC commented. Lammy is only the second British foreign secretary to visit China in the last six years.
In Beijing, he spoke with his influential counterpart Wang Yi and Deputy Prime Minister Ding Xuexiang, then headed to Shanghai to meet with representatives of British business. Lamy's visit to China signaled the new Labour government's readiness to develop closer ties with President Xi Jinping, writes "Politico". Lamy made the trip just after the first 100 days of Labour's mandate and followed through on his pledge to "adopt a more coherent strategy" than that of the Conservatives, who ruled the United Kingdom for 14 years, the publication adds.
In 2015, George Osborne, who was then the Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer, called for the start of a "golden decade" of Sino-British cooperation, notes the "New York Times". In the following years, however, relations between Beijing and London became increasingly antagonistic. In March, when he was still prime minister, Rishi Sunak said that China posed "the greatest state threat" on Britain's economic security.
On Wednesday, Sunak, who remains Conservative Party leader until his successor is elected, urged the foreign secretary to use his trip to China to condemn recent military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and persuade the government in Beijing to lift sanctions on several British lawmakers who have raised concerns about human rights in the country. Prime Minister Starmer responded, quoted by the "New York Times", that "military action around Taiwan does not contribute to peace and stability" and that his government would push for the lifting of sanctions on British parliamentarians.
This week, British Business and Economics Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told "Politico" that his country "needs more engagement with China" and that in this regard it is "absolutely excellent" compared to other G-7 countries. British government officials have denied that Keir Starmer's cabinet is seeking to "reset" relations with China, but have stressed that they want to open a new chapter of regular dialogue with Beijing.
"The UK's policy under the last [Conservative] government was not consistent and now I hear that we need consistency in our approach," Lammy told reporters on Saturday, quoted by the "South China Morning Post".
"I have spoken to representatives of British industry. It is important not to forget that 95% of this industry does not fall into areas related to national security," Lammy said. "Of course, there are areas related to national security interests, and we will always put them first. But what people want is consistency. "What businesses want is stability and clarity," the UK foreign secretary added.
Lamy calls his approach to foreign policy "progressive realism." But his critics wonder how he will manage to cooperate, compete and challenge China at the same time, while also adhering to US policy towards Beijing, the New York Times commented.
Media access to Lamy has been limited, and there have been no reports of a new trade deal or policy cooperation, the BBC's James Lendle said yesterday. According to British government officials, this is partly the fault of "Downing Street", Lendle noted. The government wants to avoid political disputes before the budget vote, which will take place later this month. "Downing Street" does not want MPs to accuse him of putting economic gain above human rights and international law, the BBC correspondent explained.
The Foreign Office said after Lamy's talks in Beijing that he had raised concerns about China's military support for Russia in Ukraine. The ministry also said Lamy had raised the issue of China's treatment of Uighurs in the Xinjiang region, shared "serious concerns" about the implementation of new national security laws in Hong Kong and called for the release of British media mogul Jimmy Lai from prison. However, the foreign office stressed that Lamy's meetings had been "constructive across the spectrum of bilateral relations" and that London and Beijing had engaged in "regular discussions" at ministerial level. Ultimately, this is precisely the purpose of Lamy's visit - to restore ties with the Chinese government, the BBC commented.
"There is a clear political desire for this government to distance itself from the approach of the previous leadership, as well as an institutional interest in direct engagement," British foreign policy analyst Sophia Gaston told the "New York Times". "But we must not forget that Beijing has been preparing for this for a long time and will stubbornly pursue its own interests," she added.
British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves plans to visit China at the beginning of the new year and renew two high-level economic forums - the Economic and Financial Dialogue and the Joint Committee on Economics and Trade, writes the "Guardian". Labour also wants to cooperate with China in the fight against climate change. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's official spokesman told reporters on Thursday: "This is a necessary pragmatic engagement with China in the interests of the UK. We will challenge China where necessary and we will seek to have a consistent and long-term, strategic approach".
The government's priority is economic growth, and that is difficult without a working relationship with the UK's fourth-largest trading partner. But when it comes to China, it is still unclear where Labour will draw the line between challenge, competition and cooperation, the BBC concludes.