China, UK agree to maintain dialogue to try to keep ties stable
- Foreign Secretary James Cleverly held talks with China’s vice-president and top diplomat in Beijing on Wednesday
- He told media he raised issues where the countries had ‘disagreements’ but stressed the need for a ‘pragmatic working relationship’
Cleverly is the first senior UK official to visit China since Jeremy Hunt travelled to Beijing as foreign secretary in 2018. Relations have taken a nosedive since then over issues such as Beijing’s human rights record in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, as well as growing tensions between China and the Group of Seven advanced economies, to which Britain belongs.
In their meeting, Han said China and the UK, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies, must take care of each other’s “core interests” and concerns in the face of global risks and challenges.
“China and the UK need to … maintain communication in international and regional affairs to jointly promote development of global peace,” Han said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“Economic and trade cooperation is the foundation for the healthy and stable development of China-UK relations. The two governments should create a good business environment for enterprises and actively explore new growth points for practical cooperation,” Han added.
Cleverly noted China’s role in international governance and agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication with Beijing to build consensus and deepen cooperation, according to CCTV.
The British foreign secretary later met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, with the two sides agreeing to keep a “direct and honest” channel of communication open to move forward bilateral ties, CGTN reported.
Wang said China had always been committed to the UK relationship but there had been “disturbances”, even during Cleverly’s visit. “Dialogue and cooperation are the keywords and the main tone of China’s policy towards the UK,” he said.
Cleverly said there would be opportunities for both countries if they could keep the relationship “positive”.
Speaking to international media in Beijing, Cleverly said he had raised issues where the two countries had “disagreements”, including those related to human rights, while stressing the need to engage with China and maintain a “pragmatic working relationship”.
“I am clear-eyed … that we are not going to change China overnight and we are certainly not going to do it in one individual meeting. But it is important that we maintain regular dialogue,” he said in footage aired on Sky News.
Meanwhile, the UK reportedly plans to invite China to a global summit on artificial intelligence safety in London in November, despite opposition from the US, Europe and Japan.
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The ministry said the aim of Cleverly’s trip was in line with the country’s plans to take a “multifaceted approach” towards China – by protecting national interests whenever Beijing posed a threat and working with allies to uphold international law, while also engaging directly with Beijing to stabilise relations.
It comes amid wider debate across Europe about de-risking the relationship with China, and as Sunak is said to be considering following the United States in limiting outbound investments to China.
China is among the UK’s top trading partners, with total volume crossing US$100 billion in 2022. Direct investment from Britain posted the second highest growth between January and July this year, only behind France, according to the Chinese commerce ministry.
Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University, said Britain still wanted to do business with China, and Cleverly’s visit was “very important” with bilateral ties at a critical juncture.
“It occurs against the backdrop of the prolonged conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Britain’s economic difficulties in the post-Brexit era and an expected general election next year in the UK,” he said. “On top of those challenges, the UK needs to strengthen diplomatic coordination with China ahead of the Cop28 climate talks to be held in Dubai at the end of the year.”
Ding said that given the deterioration of the bilateral relationship, it was unrealistic to expect a rapid rapprochement or major progress on thorny issues, including Beijing’s sanctions against some British politicians.
“Progress on the sanctions issue will depend largely on the outcome of specific negotiations,” he said. “But it is unlikely China would immediately accept the British request and remove the sanctions.”