PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meeting with China’s Director of Foreign Affairs Commission Office and Foreign Minister [July 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 July 2024.

On 26 July, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy met China’s Director of Foreign Affairs Commission Office and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting in Vientiane, Laos.

They had a constructive first discussion and the Foreign Secretary outlined this government’s vision for a long-term, consistent and strategic approach to UK-China relations. He set out that the government would cooperate where we can, compete where needed and challenge where we must. He made clear the UK would always stand firm in prioritising our national security, as well as supporting human rights.

The Foreign Secretary welcomed the opportunity to work with a fellow member of the UN Security Council and the world’s second largest economy to combat global challenges like climate change.

The Foreign Secretary underlined the UK’s ironclad commitment to Ukraine and urged China to prevent its companies supporting Russia’s military industrial complex which poses a material threat to international security and prosperity.

Both sides agreed to work towards building long-term communication channels.