UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised the importance of engagement with China as he embarked on a two-day visit to the country. This marks the first visit to China by a Cabinet member from the Labour government which assumed control in July.
Lammy expressed the view that engaging with China is both pragmatic and necessary. During his visit, he held discussions with Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and was scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the same day. The purpose of his trip is to work towards resetting relations with Beijing, especially considering recent tensions over issues such as spying allegations, China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, and the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong.
In a statement released by the Foreign Office, Lammy stressed the importance of open and honest dialogue on various areas of mutual interest and concern. He also aimed to urge China to cease its political and economic backing of Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Furthermore, the visit comes in the wake of the US imposing sanctions on two Chinese firms for allegedly assisting Russia in developing long-range attack drones used in the Ukrainian war. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has refuted these allegations. Lammy is also scheduled to visit Shanghai to engage with British business leaders, highlighting China as the UK’s fourth largest trading partner.
Human rights organisations have called on Lammy to address China’s human rights abuses in regions such as Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Additionally, there is a specific call for securing the release of British citizen Jimmy Lai, a prominent media publisher in Hong Kong who has been in custody since December 2020 and is set to testify next month in his defense at a major national security trial.