The Foreign Secretary is spending two days in China, where he will meet officials and British businesses in Beijing and Shanghai. 

On Friday, 18th October, Mr Lammy met the Chinese Vice-Premier His Excellency Mr Ding Xuexiang and the Chinese Foreign Minister and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign and Affairs Commission His Excellency, Mr Wang Yi in Beijing.  

Before leaving the UK, the Foreign Secretary said that, "As permanent members of the UN Security Council with major global economies, the UK and China are global players. Our relationship matters. Engagement with China is pragmatic and necessary to support UK and global interests...we must speak often and candidly across both areas of contention as well as areas for cooperation in the UK’s national interest."

In his meeting with Mr Lammy, Vice Premier Mr Ding said that, "both China and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council and major global economies, with deeply intertwined interests." The Vice Premier referred to the recent phone call between President Xi and Prime Minister Starmer, during which they reached important consensus on strengthening cooperation and exchanges across various fields, providing clear direction for the development of bilateral relations. Mr Ding said that "China is willing to work with the UK, with a strategic and long-term perspective, to build a stable and mutually beneficial relationship. By upgrading practical cooperation across all sectors, both countries and their peoples will benefit, and greater momentum will be injected into global peace and prosperity."

In his meeting with Mr Lammy, Chinese Foreign Minister Mr Wang said that, "China-Britain relations... now stand at a new starting point" and stressed that competition among major powers should not be the backdrop of this era.

The Foreign Secretary mentioned scope for, "mutually beneficial cooperation" in areas such as climate, energy, science, trade and tech, while cautioning that Britain would "always put its national interests and national security first."

CBBC Chief Executive Peter Burnett emphasised that the organisation is, "very encouraged by the Foreign Secretary’s visit to China. This is the first senior visit from the new government, and sends a positive signal about the vital importance of our bilateral relationship."  

"CBBC believes that such visits are key in underpinning strong economic engagement which not only supports our member companies with business in China, but will also contribute to the government’s growth agenda."