UK’s New Labour Government Aims to Reset Ties with China as Foreign Secretary Lammy Prepares for Beijing Visit

In a bid to mend strained relations, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is set to travel to China next week, marking the second visit by a UK foreign secretary in six years, Bloomberg reports.

The trip, which will see Lammy meet with Chinese officials in Beijing and executives of British companies operating in Shanghai, comes as the newly elected Labour government seeks to establish a more balanced approach to dealing with the world’s second largest economy.

The relationship between the UK and China has been fraught in recent years, with tensions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s crackdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong, and allegations of Chinese hacking. The previous Conservative government also restricted Chinese involvement in critical national infrastructure.

Labour’s approach, however, is aimed at achieving cooperation where possible, particularly in areas like trade and climate change, while simultaneously challenging China on issues such as human rights. The government views this strategy as a departure from the perceived inconsistency of the previous administration.

Lammy’s planned visit follows a similar trip by the previous Conservative Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, last year. The last high-level visit before that was five years prior.

While the UK foreign office declined to comment on the trip, China’s Foreign Ministry said it has a “positive and open” attitude towards strengthening bilateral ties with Britain.

Lammy himself outlined his “three Cs” approach to China in a speech last year – Challenge, Compete, and Cooperate – stressing the need for a strong stance on national security and human rights, while engaging in areas of shared interest like trade and climate change.

Despite the challenges, the Labour government appears optimistic about establishing a more constructive relationship with China. The recent phone call between UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and China’s vice premier He Lifeng indicates a willingness from both sides to restart economic dialogue, which had been stalled since 2019.