UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will visit China this week, Beijing's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
During the Wednesday visit "the two sides will have in-depth communication on China-UK relations and on international and regional issues of shared concern", ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing.
"It is hoped that the UK side will work alongside China in upholding a spirit of mutual respect, conduct in-depth exchanges, enhance understanding, and promote the stable development of China-UK relations," he added.
"As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world, China and the UK shoulder the common responsibility of promoting world peace, stability and development."
The visit was initially expected to take place in July, but was postponed due to the mysterious disappearance of Beijing's now ex-foreign minister Qin Gang.
Cleverly will become the first British foreign secretary to visit China in more than five years, following Jeremy Hunt's trip in 2018.
Since then relations between the UK and China have soured over a number of issues, including human rights, tech and Beijing's crackdown in the former British colony of Hong Kong.
In July, China accused the UK of giving protection to fugitives after Cleverly slammed Hong Kong's decision to offer bounties for information leading to the capture of prominent democracy activists based overseas.
And on Sunday evening, state-backed nationalist tabloid Global Times demanded that the British Museum "return Chinese cultural relics for free", setting off a domestic social media firestorm.
Hawkish elements in Britain's ruling Conservative party have urged London to take a tougher stance on China.
But Cleverly has called for a pragmatic, constructive and united Western approach to China's rising clout, acknowledging the need to work in partnership with Beijing.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Defense Industry Analyst:
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Stock Market Analyst:
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General Industry Analyst:
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Analyst Summary
:
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is scheduled to visit China on Wednesday, the first British foreign secretary to do so in five years. This visit will be an important step in improving the strained relations between the UK and China, which have been souring over the past few years due to issues such as human rights, technology, and Beijing’s crackdown in the former British colony of Hong Kong. Despite the tension between the two countries, the UK is attempting to take a pragmatic and constructive approach to China’s rise in influence. However, there are some hawkish elements in Britain’s ruling Conservative party that have called for a tougher stance on China. This visit could be a pivotal moment in determining the future of the UK-China relationship, and could have major implications for both countries and the world at large.
In the past 25 years, the space and defense industry has seen a dramatic shift in the international landscape. Since the end of the Cold War, the US and Russia have been locked in an arms race, and China has emerged as a major player in the industry. This has led to increased competition and tensions between these countries, as well as other international powers. The UK-China relationship has been strained in recent years, as both countries have tried to assert their influence in the region. This visit could be a key moment in determining the future of the relationship and its implications for the industry.
Investigative
Question:
- 1. What are the primary issues that the UK and China need to address during this visit?
- 2. What are the potential implications for the defense industry if relations between the two countries improve?
- 3.
How does the UK’s approach to China’s rise in influence compare to other international powers? 4. What measures are being taken to ensure stability in the region following any potential changes in the UK-China relationship?
5. What long-term strategies are being put in place to ensure a peaceful resolution to existing tensions between the two countries?
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