Strategic dialogue conducive to keeping Sino-UK ties on right track of progress: China Daily editorial

The visit of UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to China from Monday to Wednesday for the 11th round of the China-UK Strategic Dialogue presents an opportunity for both countries to implement the road map for improving China-UK relations that the two sides agreed during the UK prime minister's visit to China in January, the first visit by a UK leader in eight years.

This year's strategic dialogue, following the 10th China-UK Strategic Dialogue in London in February last year, shows the continued willingness of both countries to develop a long-term, stable comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Keir Starmer government has taken substantive steps to promote economic and trade cooperation with China in fields such as artificial intelligence, bioscience, new energy and low-carbon technologies. It has also shown a clear intent to step up cooperation in areas such as environmental protection.

By working together on environmental issues, China and the United Kingdom can advance their national development goals while contributing to global sustainability efforts. This cooperation can serve as a reference for other nations, demonstrating how countries with different political systems can work together to address shared challenges.

The UK is China's third-largest trading partner, third-largest investment destination and third-largest source of foreign investment in Europe, while China is the UK's largest trading partner in Asia. The Chinese economy is structurally complemented with that of the UK. Collaborating with China is essential for the UK to boost domestic growth.

Post-Brexit UK increasingly finds cooperation with China an economic necessity rather than a diplomatic option. The trade volume between China and the UK reached $103.73 billion last year, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.3 percent, highlighting the resilience of bilateral trade amid global turbulence. Facing supply-chain disruptions and rising protectionism, London has sought to revive the China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue after a long hiatus. Deeper engagement with the world's second-largest economy offers the UK opportunities for sustainable growth, investment and economic stability that are crucial for the UK to cope with post-Brexit shock waves.

And by continuing to cooperation with China in a consistent, long-term and strategic manner, the UK can not only benefit itself but also provide a reference for the European Union to improve relations with China, even though the UK is no longer part of the bloc.

However, despite the steadier momentum in China-UK relations than in the recent past, bilateral ties are far from smooth sailing. Beyond frequent irritants — such as London's repeated interference in Hong Kong-related affairs and its unilateral sanctions on Chinese entities under the pretext of the Russia-Ukraine conflict — the UK government has also blocked Chinese investments in certain sectors citing so-called "national security" concerns.

Moreover, the UK has sent warships to navigate at China's doorstep in the Western Pacific under the guise of exercising "freedom of navigation".

Such actions contradict London's stated willingness to improve bilateral relations, increase the risk of misjudgment, and heighten regional tensions — from which the UK stands to gain nothing.

The key to managing these differences lies in the UK fostering objective perceptions of China, and engaging in dialogue and communication grounded in mutual respect. The Starmer government needs to better align its deeds with its words.

If they can respect each other's differences and handle each other's core concerns properly, Beijing and London have the potential to build a partnership that is resilient and forward-looking. By enhancing coordination on global issues of mutual concern, the two countries — both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — can work together to create the conditions that are conducive to helping them navigate differences and build a partnership that contributes to world peace and development.

Pragmatic cooperation, candid dialogue, mutual respect and strategic coordination should form the main theme of China-UK relations at a time when the world is facing growing uncertainty and fragmentation.

China and the UK, as two major countries on the world stage, share a common responsibility to demonstrate that cooperation and dialogue remain the rational response to a turbulent world, offering a reliable path toward stable relations and shared prosperity.