LONDON/BEIJING - British Foreign Secretary David Lammy will visit China on a two-day visit starting on Oct 18 in a bid to improve relations between the two countries after years of tensions over security concerns and alleged human rights abuses.

       Mr Lammy will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing before visiting Shanghai to meet British businesses operating in China, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Oct 17.

       “It’s all about bringing a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s position on China,” the spokesperson told reporters, adding that Britain was prepared to challenge China where needed but also identify areas for cooperation.

       Ms Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said the talks would focus on improving cooperation in various fields.

       It will be only the second visit by a British foreign minister in six years, after Mr Lammy's Conservative predecessor James Cleverly’s trip in 2023. Before that, there had been a five-year gap in a visit to China by a British foreign minister.

       The Labour Party, which won a landslide election victory in July, is seeking to stabilise relations with Beijing after clashes over human rights, Hong Kong and allegations of Chinese espionage.

       Mr Starmer told President Xi Jinping in the first conversation between the two in August that he wanted Britain and China to pursue closer economic ties while being free to talk frankly about their disagreements.

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       China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng and British finance minister Rachel Reeves in September discussed how they could work together to boost economic growth.

       Following the exchange, Beijing said it was willing to resume the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue, an annual forum for talks on trade, investment and other economic issues, which had not taken place since 2019.

       Under the previous Conservative government, Britain expressed concern about China’s curbing of civil freedoms in Hong Kong, which was under British control until 1997, and its treatment of people in its western Xinjiang region.

       Britain and China also traded accusations over perceived spying.

       China is Britain’s sixth-largest trading partner, accounting for 5 per cent of total trade, British government figures show. REUTERS