Diplomatic Reset: Britain's David Lammy Heads to China

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is set to visit China to mend strained relations, addressing contentious issues like Hong Kong and espionage. The Labour government aims to balance cooperative economic ties with frank discussions on disagreements and will explore the revival of trade talks.

Britain's Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, is scheduled to visit China next week as part of an effort to reset strained diplomatic relations. According to insider sources, the visit seeks to mend ties that have been impacted by issues such as the situation in Hong Kong and mutual accusations of espionage.

The new Labour government aims to improve relations with China, stepping away from the confrontational stances of previous administrations. Lammy plans to engage with Chinese officials in Beijing and meet with British business representatives in Shanghai. The exact itinerary remains unconfirmed, and both the UK's Foreign Office and China's foreign ministry have not provided comments on the planned visit.

In a recent call, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of open dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside pursuing economic cooperation. Concurrently, British finance minister Rachel Reeves is also eyeing a potential visit to China to resurrect stalled trade talks. These diplomatic efforts come amidst ongoing concerns over Hong Kong, espionage allegations, and the delayed approval of a new Chinese embassy in London.

(With inputs from agencies.)