During his first visit to Britain in a decade, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed China’s commitment to free trade and multilateralism amid global challenges, according to a South China Morning Post report.
Wang made the remarks in London at the opening of the first UK-China Strategic Dialogue since 2018. He emphasized that strengthening dialogue between China and Britain would enhance communication on strategic matters and facilitate more “high-level exchanges” throughout the year.
“International cooperation and great power cooperation have become more urgent and important,” said Wang, who was accompanied by Foreign Vice-Minister Hua Chunying and Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang.
“It is more important than before for China and the UK to demonstrate their responsibilities as major countries, practice multilateralism, support free trade, advocate win-win cooperation, and promote political solutions to hotspot issues, so we can jointly work for the peace and stability of the world,” he added.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in his opening remarks, expressed his anticipation for discussions covering a wide range of topics, including economic collaboration and national security. He also noted that the two nations would address areas where they “do not always see eye to eye, and in some cases the UK does have significant concerns.”
Relations between Britain and China have been tense in recent years due to several factors, including China’s alleged support for Russia during the Ukraine war and concerns over human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
Since taking office in July, the Labour government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer has adopted a policy toward China based on “cooperation, competition and challenge,” a shift from the previous Conservative administration’s stance, which labeled China an “epoch-defining and systemic challenge” to Britain.
During a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro last November, Starmer stated that Britain aimed to be “a predictable and pragmatic partner.”
In line with this approach, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited China last month to revive a bilateral economic and financial dialogue, resulting in 69 agreements covering trade, investment, and energy. Additionally, Downing Street is reportedly working on plans for Starmer to visit China, according to Politico.
Meanwhile, tensions in transatlantic relations are growing, with former US President Donald Trump threatening to impose tariffs on goods from European allies and re-engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump aide Elon Musk has also criticized Starmer on social media, calling for his resignation, as both Musk and Trump continue to build ties with far-right political parties in Europe.
On Monday, Trump announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from all nations. While he has previously targeted China, Canada, and Mexico with tariff measures, he has now warned that the European Union could be next. Reeves told British media on Monday that the UK would push for an exemption from the tariffs, according to Politico.
London marks the first stop in Wang’s 10-day tour, which will also take him to Germany for the Munich Security Conference, where discussions are expected to focus on Trump and the Ukraine war.
He will then travel to New York for his first visit to the US since Trump’s re-election, where he will chair a UN Security Council meeting before concluding his trip in South Africa on February 20-21 for a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting.
