Covid measures in place as G7 ministers discuss China threat
Ministers from the G7 group of industrialised nations have discussed how to respond to the rise of China as they held their first face-to-face meeting in more than two years.
Dominic Raab welcomed his counterparts to London for a meeting held with strict coronavirus restrictions.
The Foreign Secretary and the other ministers were separated from each other by clear screens at the summit table, the number of aides present in meetings was also limited and the traditional family photo saw the dignitaries masked and socially distanced on the stairs of the Lancaster House venue.
Awkward forearm bumps replaced the usual handshakes as the Foreign Secretary welcomed his counterparts from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, the US and EU.
The ministers discussed how to use their combined political
clout to respond to China's economic power and increasingly assertive foreign policy agenda.
Although differences remain within the G7 over how to approach Beijing, there is a recognition that economic ties and the need for co-operation on health and climate change mean that China cannot be treatedasanadversaryinanew Cold War.
Askedwhatmessagethesummit communique to be issued today will send to authoritarian regimes, Mr Raab said: "We believe in keeping trade open, we believe in standing up for opensocieties,forhumanrights and democracy, we believe in safeguarding and promoting public good, whether it is the environment and tackling climate change, particularly with (climatechangesummit)cop26 coming up in November, but also dealing with pandemics and public health more generally."
US secretary of state Antony Blinkensaid:"wehavetobeable toengagechinafromaposition of strength, and that means a few things.
"It means actually working withalliesandpartners,notdisparaging them. That is a position of strength.
"It means leaning in and engaging in the vast array of multilateral and international organisations because that's where so many of the rules are made. That's where the norms are shaped.
"And if we're not leaning in, we know that Beijing is likely to be trying to do so in our place."