The UK approach to China needs “more diplomacy, not less”, the Foreign Secretary has said on his first official visit to the country.
David Lammy said the Government would bring “consistency” to relations with China, adding there had not been “sufficient contact” between London and Beijing under his predecessors, particularly on human rights issues.
Speaking to reporters in Shanghai on Saturday, Mr Lammy said the meetings were “the beginning of a process”, adding it had been important to “restart dialogue”.
He said: “It’s only in dialogue that we can bring about better understanding and change.”
He added: “I believe what you need is more diplomacy, not less.
“That’s why it’s so important to be here as a UK Foreign Secretary and to keep coming back.
“And, of course, I was able to have dialogue with the Chinese on areas where we disagree, areas like Hong Kong, areas like Taiwan, areas like human rights in Xinjiang, we were able to have those conversations and raise difficult, challenging issues.”
Mr Lammy is the second British foreign secretary to visit China in the past two years.
Mr Lammy criticised the previous government’s approach to China as “inconsistent”.
Vowing to always put national security first, he said: “What people also want is consistency. What business wants is stability and clarity, and that’s what the UK Government, led by Keir Starmer, promises over this next period.”
In statements released after the meetings in Beijing, both governments stressed the need for “pragmatic, mutually beneficial cooperation”, although the Foreign Office added that Mr Lammy had raised humans rights and security issues with his Chinese counterpart.
Mr Lammy then travelled to Shanghai to meet British businesses to discuss economic links between the UK and China.
