Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi today held the '11th China-UK Strategic Dialogue' with UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper in the capital, Beijing. Wang Yi recalled that during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China at the beginning of the year, the leaders of the two countries reached a consensus on the long-term and stable development of the China-UK comprehensive strategic partnership.
Wang emphasized the value of returning to normalcy in contacts and cooperation in various fields between the two countries, stating that it is necessary to implement the consensus reached between the leaders, strengthen high-level contacts, and deepen coordination and communication to achieve more concrete cooperation results. Wang Yi expressed hope that the UK would provide a fair, impartial, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies, not excessively broaden the concept of security, and create favorable conditions for the development of bilateral cooperation.
Wang highlighted that the international environment is becoming increasingly complex and turbulent, with power politics on the rise again, and noted that the world is experiencing one of the deepest periods of uncertainty since the end of the Cold War. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), China and the UK bear significant responsibilities, Wang stated, adding that the two countries should protect the international order established after World War II, adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, advocate true multilateralism, and contribute to making the global governance system more just and reasonable.
UK FOREIGN MINISTER COOPER EMPHASIZES 'COOPERATION'
Yvette Cooper stated that during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China in January, the leaders of the two countries agreed on developing a long-term and stable UK-China comprehensive strategic partnership. Cooper noted that this approach aligns with the interests of both countries and emphasized that in a period of complex and uncertain international circumstances, it is more important than ever for the UK and China, as permanent members of the UNSC, to strengthen dialogue and cooperation. Cooper expressed the UK's readiness to increase high-level contacts, develop various dialogue mechanisms, and deepen cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, finance, energy, artificial intelligence, and climate change, in line with the direction set by the leaders of the two countries.
Cooper stated that the UK's policy on Taiwan has not changed since the establishment of diplomatic relations and will not change, emphasizing their support for addressing disputes constructively through sincere dialogue and for developing bilateral relations in a healthy and stable manner.
