Britain’s foreign secretary, David Lammy, is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Friday on a two-day visit aimed at resetting and smoothing ties with China while acknowledging differences between the two countries over issues including human rights and the war in Ukraine. Mr. Lammy is set to meet with the Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, on Friday before traveling to Shanghai for meetings with British business leaders who have operations there. Ahead of the visit, the British government said the foreign secretary would urge China to curtail its political and economic support of Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. “Engagement with China is pragmatic and necessary to support U.K. and global interests,” Mr. Lammy said in remarks released ahead of his arrival. “From stopping Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine to supporting a global green transition, we must speak often and candidly across both areas of contention as well as areas for cooperation in the U.K.’s national interest.”

Source: The Times October 18, 2024 06:07 UTC