中文
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with James Cleverly, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, in Beijing, capital of China, August 30, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
By Kulsum Begum
The visit of James Cleverly, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the UK, to China is significant, not only because this was the first senior British minister to visit China in five years, but also because it involves a face-to-face encounter between top officials from the two nations. This is a positive move for both sides in easing tension and reducing enmity.
However, recently, UK lawmakers refer to the Taiwan region as "an independent country" in panel report. Amid concerns about "vulnerabilities in key infrastructure," Britain has eliminated Chinese funding from the Sizewell C nuclear power station and promised to remove Chinese technology from the country's 5G network, which brings significantly negative influence to the relationship between China and Britain.
On the other hand, due to the influence of the U.S., the UK's attitude towards China is a contentious issue; UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has a tough time repairing the troubled relations with China. Sunak said he's keen to seeing Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 conference taking place in India during the following week. However, UK's approach to China must be founded in the first place on its own national interests, but not on those of other nations.
In such circumstances, Cleverly's China visit is critical at the time when the China-UK relations need recalibration. As Cleverly rightly pointed out that "it's important to also recognize that we have to have a pragmatic, sensible working relationship with China because of the issues that affect us all around the globe." "Disengaging with China not credible" comment of the secretary demonstrates a positive signal to mend the fences.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with James Cleverly, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, in Beijing, China, August 30, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Despite having more symbolic than practical relevance, the visit presents a chance to strengthen ties between China and the UK. The two nations' present diplomatic climate is cold, so the visit may be the first bold step toward warming the ties. Few hints have been provided by Cleverly as to what a "pragmatic, sensible working relationship" truly entails.
Furthermore, it was encouraging that the Foreign Office of the UK apparently instructed government staff to stop using the term "hostile state" and to remove it from publications before his visit in case it upsets China. Clever claims he wants to contribute something. He underlined the necessity of cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, and climate change, provided that the latter did not pose a threat to national security. Cleverly also hinted at Britain's openness to further liberalize its banking sector and other sectors of the economy to Chinese investment on the eve of his visit, he proclaimed, "The UK is open for business" and "We seek inward investment in a range of areas as long as it's in keeping with our national security interests."
The UK is eager to increase high-level interactions and strategic communication with China to forge agreement and deepen collaboration. The UK recognizes China's significant contribution to the global economy and the eradication of poverty.
Despite having some disagreements, a smooth communication mechanism should be formed to demonstrate that both parties place a high priority on their bilateral economic and commercial relations and that they are willing to keep communicating to prevent tensions from getting worse. For instance, the UK could pursue a policy of closer connections with China similar to those of Australia, Germany, and France. London should deal with its relations with China in a more impartial and long-term manner.
China has long been one of the top export destinations for the UK. According to the UK Office for National Statistics, China was one of the UK's largest trading partners in 2021. The 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Service, which began this weekend in Beijing, has designated the UK as this year's Guest Country of Honor. Thus, it's urgent to smooth the bilateral ties to ensure win-win trade and economic ties.
Through conversations on practical collaboration and other topics, such as the consequences of the Ukraine crisis, Cleverly's visit should contribute to improving the strategic mutual understanding between China and the UK and melting the icy relations.
The weak post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, and the skewed and disrupted global supply networks are just a few of the severe issues that the entire globe is facing. Without the coordinated efforts of all nations, especially the united efforts of significant countries, the international community will not be able to address these difficulties.
Intending to unite worldwide efforts to address the obstacles to sustainable development and advance human welfare, China has proposed the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative.
UK foreign secretary's China visit insisted on a similar problem-solving mindset and put out the necessary effort to forge positive, long-lasting ties with China.
Significant mutual interests between China and the UK serve as a strong foundation for increased collaboration. Greater Sino-British collaboration would not only help them forge trust and move over their differences, but it would also provide them with the opportunity to participate more actively in global governance and work together to address shared concerns. In turn, this would contribute to bringing stability to a world that is growing more chaotic.
Kulsum Begum, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a security and strategic affairs researcher and freelance columnist.
