BEIJING: He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, met with British finance minister Rachel Reeves in London on Sunday. Both sides held in-depth exchanges of views on China-UK economic and financial cooperation and issues of common concern, Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.
He Lifeng said that the two sides should make joint efforts to implement the important consensus reached between the two leaders, ensure the outcomes of China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue are delivered, further deepen exchanges and cooperation in all economic and financial fields, promote mutual benefit and win-win results, and maintain the sustained, healthy and stable development of China-UK economic relations.
Reeves said that the UK attaches great importance to cooperation with China, and is willing to strengthen communication with the Chinese side, implement the outcomes of the China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, and inject new momentum into China-UK economic cooperation, Xinhua reported.
In January, He Lifeng and Reeves co-chaired the 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue in Beijing. During the dialogue, the two sides reached a series of mutually beneficial outcomes and consensus, according to Xinhua.
Zhao Yongsheng, a research fellow of the Institute of Regional and International Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, told the Global Times that He Lifeng’s talks with Reeves helps both China and the UK to enhance mutual understanding.
The Chinese foreign ministry announced on Saturday that at the invitation of the UK government, He Lifeng is scheduled to visit the UK from June 8 to 13. While in the UK, He will hold the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism with the US side, said the spokesperson.
Beyond being geographically convenient, UK government sources told Sky News on Saturday that Britain is geopolitically in the right place right now to act as this bridge and facilitator between China and the US, adding that the UK-China relationship is in the process of a “reset.”
The Chinese side recognizes the UK Labour government’s pragmatic attitude toward cooperation with China as the current UK government is actively supportive of engaging with China, Zhao said.
In an interview with The Telegraph in April, Reeves expressed support for strengthening ties with China rather than building new barriers, and said that it would be “very foolish” for the UK to disengage from China, emphasizing the importance of continued economic cooperation.
However, the White House has reportedly warned Downing Street against allowing a Chinese embassy to be built near sensitive London financial centers, according to UK media outlet The Times.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has dismissed reported US misgivings about plans for the Chinese embassy. In an interview with Sky News’ Sunday Morning, Kyle said that security concerns will be “taken care of assiduously in the planning process.” –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
