China urges Britain to build relationship based on mutual respect ahead of Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s visit

Cleverly says Beijing must live up to international commitments and help end war in Ukraine and ease tensions in South China Sea

Ahead of Wednesday’s visit, China’s foreign ministry says both countries have a ‘common responsibility’ to promote world peace and stability

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British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly pictured with his Chinese conterpart Wang Yi at the United Nations in New York last year. The pair are expected to meet on Wednesday. Photo: YouTube

Published: 6:33pm, 29 Aug 2023

China has urged Britain to work with Beijing to promote world peace and develop a relationship based on mutual respect ahead of Wednesday’s visit to Beijing by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Cleverly will become the first senior British official to visit China since his predecessor Jeremy Hunt in 2018.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily press briefing on Tuesday that the two sides will discuss international and regional issues of common concern.

“As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world economies, China and the UK shoulder the common responsibility of promoting the stable development of global peace,” he said.

“Maintaining and developing bilateral relations is in the common interests of the two peoples … [We] hope the UK will work with China to conduct in-depth exchanges, enhance understanding and promote the stable development of China-UK relations based on mutual respect.”

The British foreign ministry, in a statement, said Cleverly is expected to meet his counterpart Wang Yi and vice-president Han Zheng during his one-day visit.