UK and China in talks about resuming economy discussions

British finance ministry officials and their Chinese counterparts are currently in detailed discussions about holding the first high-level meeting between top finance officials since 2019, Sky News reported on Tuesday.

According to Sky, Britain’s new finance minister, Rachel Reeves, is contemplating a visit to Beijing in early 2025 for the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue—a platform for bilateral discussions on trade, investment, and other economic matters.

Last month, Chinese state media quoted Vice Premier He Lifeng, who expressed China’s willingness to restart “economic and financial dialogue” with Britain following a phone conversation with Reeves.

Relations between the two nations have been tense in recent years due to British concerns over a Beijing-imposed national security law in Hong Kong, allegations of human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, and security issues related to Chinese companies involved in critical infrastructure.

In August, after winning the parliamentary elections in July, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Chinese President Xi Jinping that the two countries need to be able to discuss their disagreements openly while also seeking closer economic ties.

A spokesperson for Britain’s finance ministry, when asked about the Sky News report, referred to last month’s call between Reeves and He, noting that “they agreed to take forward discussions on timings and areas that could be covered in future engagement.”