Sources say that the British Foreign Minister plans to visit China early in June.

Three sources familiar with plans say that British Foreign Minister Yvette 'Cooper will visit China early in June. London is looking to capitalize on the relatively 'cordial' ties it has with Beijing, before any new setbacks over a a 'new Chinese embassy to the UK capital.

One source said that Cooper's trip on June 2-3 will see her travel to Beijing to speak with Wang Yi, the Chinese counterpart, before going to Shenzhen, the tech hub in the south, to meet businesspeople.

Two British officials have said that briefings will be prepared based on the assumption that even if a leadership race were to take place in order to remove British Prime Minister Keir starmer, it would probably still take weeks or months, and that the Foreign Secretary would travel anyway.

Cooper has not been a frontrunner in the race for Labour leader, despite holding two of Britain's Great Offices of State – prime minister, chancellor of exchequer and foreign secretary.

The British Embassy and Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to a comment request.

Starmer and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping declared a "reset", in ties, during a visit to China in January, after?the British Government approved plans for Beijing's largest embassy in Europe to be built in London. This paved the?way? for the lifting of Chinese sanction?on six currently serving legislators.

Beijing is buzzing with diplomacy. U.S. president Donald Trump has just wrapped up his state visit, while Russian president Vladimir Putin will arrive next week.

BRIEF WINDOW of OPPORTUNITY

China and the UK want to continue high-level commercial and financial talks in the coming year. The Starmer government is prioritizing efforts to attract new investment from the second largest economy of the world, while China wants to improve market access to offset the sluggish demand at home.

Two British officials have said that the?British Government's decision to block the use by Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Ming Yang Smart Energy for offshore wind projects in March on security grounds has disappointed Beijing.

One of the officials claimed that Cooper's trip was not impacted by the decision made about Ming Yang because it had been communicated in advance to?the Chinese.

Both British and Chinese officials said they were bracing themselves for the result of a High Court review of the January approval by the government of a new Chinese Embassy, due in either June or July. Beijing is likely to retaliate again if the project stalls.

The British government still tries to make the best of the current detente. Relations under the previous Conservative government were soured during the coronavirus pandemic by tensions over human rights and spies accusations.

Two sources have confirmed that the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, headed by Labour MP Emily Thornberry will visit China in the second half of this month. The trip is likely to include stops in Beijing and Guangzhou. However, one source warned the trip could be cancelled due to the political turmoil at home. Reporting by Joe Cash, Editing by Raju Gopikrishnan.

(source: Reuters)