 "Amid row over mega London embassy plan, China’s top diplomat to visit Britain for talks")
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit Britain on Wednesday for talks that haven’t taken place since 2018, signaling a warming of relations between the two countries.
According to a South China Morning Post report, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun confirmed the trip on Monday, stating that Wang will co-chair the China-UK Strategic Dialogue with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
The visit comes after Lammy’s trip to Beijing in October and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’ visit to Beijing and Shanghai last month, as Britain’s Labour government aims to strengthen ties with China.
In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
During those discussions, Starmer pledged to be “a predictable and pragmatic partner,” emphasising that his approach would prioritise Britain’s national interest while seeking to deepen the trade relationship between the two countries.
According to the report, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is also set to visit Beijing later this year to resume the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission.
Wang’s visit this week coincides with increasing scrutiny over Beijing’s proposal to open a new embassy near the Tower of London. China purchased the site in 2018 to build the largest embassy in Europe, but the local council rejected the plan in 2022 due to security concerns.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAfter Starmer took power, China resubmitted the proposal, and a planning inquiry hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, added the report.
The plan has sparked protests and political concerns, with Xi reportedly discussing it with Starmer in August.
China’s foreign ministry announced that Wang will also visit Ireland, marking a year since the last top-level talks between Beijing and Dublin. Wang will attend the Munich Security Conference in Germany from Friday to Sunday to present China’s stance on major international issues, according to a South China Morning Post report.
Following his European trip, Wang will head to New York to chair a UN Security Council meeting focused on the Middle East. He will then travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, for discussions with other G20 foreign ministers, added the report.
This announcement follows US counterpart Marco Rubio’s accusations of “anti-Americanism” in South Africa, which he claims is expropriating private property to advance a “DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)” agenda.
With inputs from agencies
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