British Foreign Secretary David Lammy is visiting China this week, both Beijing and Downing Street confirmed it. This marks the first visit by a senior UK official since Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office in July.
Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced that Lammy will undertake an official visit from October 18 to 19. A spokesperson for Downing Street confirmed the trip, stating that Lammy will “challenge” China while pursuing “necessary pragmatic engagement.”
The visit aims to advance the consensus reached between the two countries’ leaders during an August phone call, Mao said during a regular press briefing.
“China and the UK are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world economies,” Mao highlighted, adding that stable bilateral relations align with the shared interests of both nations. Beijing hopes to enhance strategic mutual trust and strengthen cooperation across various sectors.
“China is willing to work with the UK to uphold our partnership, maintain openness and cooperation, and ensure the sound and steady development of China-UK relations,” Mao said.
A Downing Street spokesperson emphasized that while the UK will challenge China when necessary, it seeks to establish a consistent, long-term, strategic approach to managing relations with Beijing.
UK-China relations have cooled significantly since the “Golden Age” hailed by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015. In recent years, tensions have been rising, including over human rights issues raised during the August 2023 visit of Lammy’s predecessor, James Cleverly, who also met with senior Chinese officials.
