British Foreign Secretary Lammy to make official visit to China

The government says visit is a 'necessary, pragmatic engagement with China in the UK’s interest'

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. PA

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy will visit China on Friday and Saturday, Beijing’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has confirmed.

The British government insisted it will “challenge” China on issues including human rights violations and the tensions over Taiwan, with the visit being Mr Lammy's first trip to the country since taking office.

In Beijing, he is expected to meet Chinese Foreign Secretary Wang Yi and is also set to hold talks with British businesses in Shanghai.

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Concerns continue to be raised over China’s human rights record, action in the Taiwan Strait, Hong Kong and UK universities, as well as its backing for Russia amid the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Lammy’s trip comes with the “firm recognition” that London and Beijing “will not, and do not, always agree”, the Foreign Office insisted.

Before travelling to the country, Mr Lammy said it was important to speak “candidly” about “both areas of contention as well as areas for co-operation in the UK’s national interest”.

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

“Engagement with China is pragmatic and necessary to support UK and global interests.

“From stopping Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, to supporting a global green transition, we must speak often and candidly across both areas of contention as well as areas for co-operation in the UK’s national interest.”

The UK Foreign Office said engagement with Beijing is “vital” due to its position as a rising global power and said the visit would start a “stable, consistent and pragmatic approach to China”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has outlined the government’s approach as “co-operate where we can”, “compete where we have different interests” and “challenge … where it is needed”.

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China held large-scale military exercises around Taiwan and its outlying islands this week, something Mr Starmer said is “not conducive to peace and stability”.

At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday he said: “Stability in the Taiwan Strait is in all of our interests.”

Setting out his wider approach to China, Mr Starmer said: “We will co-operate where we can as permanent members of the UN Security Council, on issues such as net zero and health and trade.

“Compete where we have different interests, and challenge … where it is needed to protect national security, human rights and our values. We will put that challenge in.”