UK foreign secretary to visit China with anti-protectionism in mind

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is scheduled to visit China on Monday with Chinese observers saying the main issue will be free trade and opposing protectionism.

Earlier this month, Hunt replaced Boris Johnson as the UK foreign secretary following Johnson’s resignation. His visit shows the importance the UK attaches to its relations with China, according to China’s foreign ministry.

Ahead of Hunt’s visit, Barbara Woodward, the British Ambassador to China, said at a briefing on Friday that free trade and multilateralism are among the themes for the strategic dialogue on Monday.

The UK is a strong supporter of free trade and multilateralism, and the UK wants to work with China to ensure that the World Trade Organization is able to respond, preserve and protect the free trade order, Woodward said.

During Hunt’s visit, Premier Li Keqiang and Yang Jiechi, a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, will meet him separately. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will cochair strategic dialogue and exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional hotspot issues with him, according to the foreign ministry.

Woodward revealed UK Prime Minister Theresa May has invited Premier Li to come to the UK early next year, and that the UK will send a high-level delegation to the China International Import Expo in Shanghai this fall.

Hunt’s visit sends a signal to China of the UK stability, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said on Sunday.

The two countries may also call for free trade in the world economy following the US’s recent trade protectionism, Cui told the Global Times.

“But the UK may not pick a side in trade disputes between China and the US as it considers both the US and China important trade partners in the postBrexit era,” Cui said.

Geng Shuang, foreign ministry spokesman, said at a regular briefing last week that the visit will strengthen political mutual trust and promote greater development of the China-UK global comprehensive strategic partnership. “Under the current international circumstances, it’s imperative for China and the UK to send out positive and upbeat messages about upholding the rules-based international order, building an open world economy and opposing protectionism and unilateralism.”