China keen on stable, long-term ties with Britain, Beijing’s Ding Xuexiang tells Lammy

China is ready to develop “stable and mutually beneficial” ties with Britain, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang told visiting Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
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Lammy landed in Beijing on Friday for a two-day trip focused on “pragmatic and necessary” engagements with China, Britain’s sixth-biggest trading partner.

Ding, sixth in the Chinese official hierarchy, said the interests of China and Britain were “deeply intertwined”, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday.

“China is willing to work with the UK, focusing on strategic and long-term objectives, to develop a stable and mutually beneficial relationship, and enhance the quality and level of practical cooperation in various fields,” Ding was quoted as saying.

According to the report, Lammy said the new government in Britain wanted to “strengthen constructive dialogue”, deepen cooperation across various fields and jointly address global challenges.

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He has also met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.