The recent visit of the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to China underscored the importance of the UK-China relationship.

In his discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both sides acknowledged the need for ongoing dialogue and cooperation across key areas such as education, climate change, and international development.

Lammy is the second top UK diplomat to visit China in six years, at a roundtable co-hosted by the British Council China, for education, arts and business. The Foreign Secretary highlighted the new government’s approach to establishing stable and consistent engagement with China, which is a positive signal about the vital importance of the bilateral relationship.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “As permanent members of the UN Security Council with major global economies, the UK and China are global players. Our relationship matters.”

At a time when China is “opening up” to European influence in the internationalisation of its higher education sector, visits and engagements like this are critical to ensure that the UK remains a preferred partner and at the forefront of all potential collaborations.

Reference:

Press release: Foreign Secretary visits China. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-visits-china--2

https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202410/18/WS67119c80a310f1265a1c832d.html