UK and China talks to cover contentious issues, minister Lammy says

LONDON: Britain’s Foreign Minister David Lammy said on Thursday discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi would include issues upon which both nations “do not always see eye-to-eye”.

Wang is in London to revive the UK-China Strategic Dialogue, a forum last held in 2018 to discuss bilateral issues. The visit is seen as a sign that relations between the countries are normalising after years of tensions.

“I look forward to a broad set of discussions today including following up on areas of bilateral economic cooperation as well as important issues for UK national security,” Lammy said, speaking to Wang inside the foreign office.

“We will also discuss issues where the UK and China do not always see eye-to-eye, and in some cases the UK does have significant concerns.”

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Lammy’s comments came at the start of the meeting before media were ushered out of the room. An official British readout of the full meeting is expected afterwards.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman said the talks would also include international security and the war in Ukraine.

The Labour government, in power in Britain since July, has made improving ties with China one of its main foreign policy goals, after a period when relations plunged to their lowest level in decades under successive Conservative governments.