He is also due to meet British business leaders in Shanghai (east), the country’s economic capital.
His arrival is also an opportunity to confirm the relative warming of diplomatic ties, after years of tensions linked in particular to the United Kingdom’s recurring criticism of China’s repression of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, a former British colony.
The two countries have also accused each other of espionage and London has denounced cyberattacks against its elected officials.
– “Pragmatic” –
But China and the United Kingdom renewed high-level contact in August during a telephone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Keir Starmer.
In a statement on Friday, David Lammy noted that communication “with China is pragmatic and necessary to support British and global interests”.
“We must speak often and frankly,” he added.
The two countries “have common interests, particularly with regard to the transition to green energy on a global scale, and deep economic ties”, a Downing Street spokesperson said on Thursday.
However, the head of British diplomacy “will question China on the subjects for which this proves necessary”, he underlined.
The biggest bone of contention for London remains Beijing’s campaign to limit press freedom and the demonstrations in Hong Kong, a former British colony returned to China in 1997.
London criticizes the new national security laws in the territory and deplores an erosion of civil liberties. But China argues that it has thus succeeded in restoring order in Hong Kong and sees any criticism as interference in its internal affairs.
A few days before David Lammy’s trip to China, Keir Starmer called on Wednesday for the release of media mogul Jimmy Lai, a major figure in the democracy movement in Hong Kong, currently imprisoned for endangering national security.
– Beijing-Moscow links –
Another sensitive issue: the war in Ukraine. According to Downing Street, David Lammy will “urge China to end its political and economic support for the Russian war effort”.
China calls for peace talks and respect for the territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine.
But it has never condemned Russia for its invasion, launched in 2022, and economic and military ties between Beijing and Moscow have even strengthened since that date.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, said on Thursday that she hoped that David Lammy’s visit would be an opportunity to “strengthen strategic mutual trust” and “dialogue on all levels”.
The organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday called on the head of British diplomacy to place respect for human rights at the “center” of bilateral relations.
“David Lammy came into office promising to restore Britain’s commitment to international law,” Maya Wang, HRW’s China director, said in a statement.
“A visit to China, a country that regularly seeks to undermine, manipulate or ignore these legal frameworks, will certainly test this ambition.”
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