🚀 UK and China: Time to Boost Trade Ties! 🇬🇧🤝🇨🇳
The UK's foreign minister David Lammy is jetting off to Beijing this Friday for a two-day visit. ✈️ With Britain navigating the post-Brexit world, there's a big push to amp up economic and trade ties globally. 🌐💼
Before the trip, China's Foreign Ministry shared some positive vibes: \"China is ready to work with the UK as a partner, to adhere to openness and cooperation, to promote mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote the steady and long-term development of China-UK relations.\" 🤗✨
But let's be real—relations have been a bit rocky lately, especially around issues like Hong Kong and Taiwan. 🌊⚖️ Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned that the UK aims to \"cooperate\" on things like climate change 🌱🌍 and \"compete\" where interests diverge. 🏁
Enter Adair Turner, a big name in UK business! 🌟 A former chair of the Financial Services Authority and ex-director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, Lord Turner told CGTN that cooperation is crucial—even if it's tricky. 🧩
\"We live in a world of significant geopolitical tensions and disagreements… The world is a much more tricky place than it was maybe 50 years ago,\" Turner said. 🕰️🌐
He emphasized the importance of maintaining economic relations, especially on climate change. \"China has emerged as a hugely important developer of new clean technology,\" he noted. 🚗🔋
\"I see no reason why we shouldn't be cooperating to bring together the best of Chinese and UK science,\" Turner added. \"On battery technology, driving through to the commercialization both in the UK and China, a technology which can transform our energy systems for the benefit of the whole world.\" 🔋🌎✨
⚖️ Tariffs and Trade Tangles
Meanwhile, China and the EU are in a bit of a spat over tariffs on electric car exports. 🚗💥 Trade experts are worried this could spiral into a larger tit-for-tat situation. 😬 European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says Europe \"wants a level playing field\" with China. ⚖️
Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse 🇩🇪💪, is hoping for an agreement by the end of October. 🗓️
Turner suggests the UK should take a different route. Using Chinese-made solar panels as an example, he told CGTN: \"I think there may be justified tariffs according to WTO rules… but they shouldn't just be aimed to put an end to trade.\" ☀️🚫
\"One of the ways that China became rich was to welcome inward investment from the West when it was behind technologically,\" he said. \"We should learn from that and be willing to do the same in Europe.\" 🌍🤝
It's clear that in a world full of challenges, cooperation might just be the key to unlocking a brighter future! 🔑✨
Reference(s):
Former UK business chief urges stronger trade ties with China
cgtn.com
