A cross-party delegation of British lawmakers is to visit China this month for the first time since 2019, two sources familiar with the preparations said, in a sign of warming ties since a visit in January by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The five-day trip by 12 Labour and Conservative lawmakers is being organized by the Great Britain-China Centre, a non-governmental organization funded by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to promote ties with China.
Reuters could not determine the full list of participating lawmakers or details of their itinerary. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity as preparations for the visit are still underway.
Photo: AFP
In contrast, British lawmakers have made nine visits since 2022 to Taiwan.
China in 2021 imposed sanctions on nine Britons, including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, accusing them of spreading “lies and disinformation” about alleged human rights abuses in its western region of Xinjiang.
Beijing then lifted sanctions on six serving lawmakers in January after Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on his China trip, which both sides hailed as a “reset” in ties.
Until then, relations had soured by tension during the COVID-19 pandemic over human rights and spying accusations.
However, China has retained its Xinjiang-related sanctions on two British academics and lawyers, as well as four organizations based in Britain.
The British lawmakers’ visit follows one in March by nine European lawmakers, the first in eight years after China lifted sanctions on certain members of the European parliament last year.
The resumption in parliamentary exchanges marks a tentative reopening of diplomatic dialogue after years of frosty ties between China and Europe.
However, issues around alleged Chinese spying and the controversial mega-embassy China plans to build in London continue to swirl.
A London court this week held two men guilty of spying on behalf of Hong Kong and China, targeting prominent pro-democracy dissidents now based in Britain.
The men, both dual Chinese and British nationals, denied the accusations, while the Chinese embassy in London has accused Britain of fabricating the charges against them.
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