LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) — British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will depart for China on Monday, proceeding to India later in the week. The trips will center on pressing global matters, including the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Russia‑Ukraine conflict, and the latest Ebola outbreak.
She is scheduled to meet her Chinese counterpart, State Councilor Wang Yi, and Vice President Han Zheng on June 2. Following that, she will travel to Shenzhen, China’s southern technology hub, for a day‑long program focusing on science and technology, as announced by the government.
The plan was unveiled on Sunday, shortly after Reuters reported last month that the visit was in the works, citing three sources.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping praised a renewed partnership during the British leader’s January visit to China, pledging enhanced cooperation on trade, investment, and technology for the mutual benefit of both nations.
The upcoming trip will focus on addressing major global challenges.
Starmer, who faces some of the lowest popularity ratings of any current leader, became the first British prime minister to travel to China in eight years. His centre‑left Labour administration has made strengthening ties with Beijing a top priority.
Cooper’s travel to China and India — the world’s second‑ and sixth‑largest economies — comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, rising oil prices following recent developments in the region, and a period of sluggish economic growth for the United Kingdom.
She is scheduled to be in India on June 4, where she will meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, as well as entrepreneurs, academics, and government partners involved in the UK‑India Vision 2035 initiative.
The two nations signed a free‑trade agreement last year to boost bilateral trade and improve market access across sectors. However, India’s trade secretary, Rajesh Agrawal, noted last month that its implementation has encountered a hurdle due to London’s new steel import restrictions.
The British government stated that Cooper’s forthcoming engagements “with these two major powers are expected to focus on addressing the most significant global challenges.”
(Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
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