UK trade visit to China ‘profoundly important’

CGTN Europe

The visit of British finance minister Rachel Reeves to China to boost trade and economic ties is very important for China and UK relations. That’s the view of Stephen Green, member of the UK's House of Lords and the former group chairman of HSBC.  #China #UK #UKChinaRelations

Transcript

00:00It's the first time a senior government minister, apart from a foreign secretary,

00:05has been to China for some time. It represents the end of what I think must have looked like

00:13a hiatus in terms of the relationship. And of course to have the Chancellor of the Exchequer

00:17go there relatively soon after delivering a British budget is, I think, of profound importance.

00:25This is, of course, a new government. The new government shows every sign of wanting a pragmatic

00:32and developing relationship with China. So I think this is of significance of a very high order.

00:39The so-called golden age of UK-China relations, once heralded by UK Prime Minister David Cameron,

00:46was of course brought to a close by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak back in

00:522022. Where is this UK-China relationship now, would you say?

00:58Well, I'm not sure I think that labels are terribly helpful. So

01:02calling this a renewal of the golden era, I think, is not quite the point.

01:06The point is, I think, that both sides recognise the need for a pragmatic relationship in the

01:11context of a complicated geopolitical scene globally. We are two weeks away or so from

01:18a new American administration that's going to affect all of us. This is a complicated world

01:25and the relationship between Britain and China is a complicated one. There's

01:29history, of course, that we all have to recognise. But looking at now and going forwards,

01:36the important point is that these are both countries with important interests on the world

01:40stage and with a real need to benefit from the trade and investment opportunities that

01:46flow from a good commercial relationship.

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