China-UK top diplomats pledge deeper cooperation amid global turbulence

During a Tuesday meeting in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged visiting British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to further communicate and align positions, emphasizing the need to strengthen high-level exchanges and deliver more tangible results. Wang stressed the importance of anchoring their relationship to a long-term, stable comprehensive strategic partnership, aiming to inject greater certainty into a turbulent global landscape. The remarks, per a Chinese foreign ministry read-out, come as both nations seek to thaw relations after years of tensions.

Cooper's three-day visit follows UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's high-profile January trip—the first by a British PM in six years. During that visit, Starmer and President Xi Jinping vowed to bolster dialogue and develop a long-term partnership, with Xi calling for a new chapter in bilateral ties. Wang also highlighted both countries' roles as UN Security Council permanent members and urged Britain to uphold multilateralism for a more just global governance system.