Britain’s foreign secretary will visit China in an attempt to shore up ties and reduce tensions

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Britain’s top diplomat, James Cleverly, is set to visit China on Wednesday, as the two countries attempt to shore up frayed ties.

It will be the first trip by a U.K. foreign secretary to China in more than five years. Both countries confirmed the long-awaited trip on Tuesday.

“The two sides will have in-depth communication on Sino-British relations and international and regional issues of common concern,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. “We hope the British side will work with us to uphold the spirit of mutual respect, deepen exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and promote the stable development of Sino-British relations.”

Cleverly’s visit is an attempt to stabilize China-Britain ties, which have sunk to their lowest level in decades. The countries disagree over issues such as Beijing’s curbing of civil freedoms in Hong Kong, a former British colony, alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, China’s support for Russia and Britain’s close security ties with the United States.

Cleverly said in June he would raise issues such as Xinjiang and Hong Kong with the Chinese government and request that Beijing lift sanctions on British parliamentarians.

In 2021, China sanctioned five British members of Parliament who are critical of Beijing. They are barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau and from doing business with Chinese citizens.

Cleverly was initially scheduled to travel to Beijing in July, but his trip was postponed, and his then-counterpart, Qin Gang, was later replaced with veteran diplomat Wang Yi.

The U.K. government said Cleverly’s trip was aimed at strengthening channels of communication and protecting British interests. He will meet with Wang and Vice President Han Zheng, the Foreign Office said.

“It is important we manage our relationship with China across a range of issues,” Cleverly said in a statement. “No significant global problem – from climate change to pandemic prevention, from economic instability to nuclear proliferation – can be solved without China.”

He said that China’s size, history and global significance means they cannot be ignored, but that comes with a responsibility on the global stage. “That responsibility means China fulfilling its international commitments and obligations.”

Britain’s governing Conservative party is split over how tough a line to take with Beijing. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has described China as a growing “systemic challenge” to Britain’s values and interests, but he has also stressed the need to maintain a relationship with the Asian superpower.

Besides highlighting human rights and security concerns, Cleverly is expected to explore potential areas of cooperation with China, such as climate change and trade.

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Lawless reported from London.