Spursex
Alert Team
Pandemic has brought Britain and China closer, Beijing ambassador Liu Xiaoming claims
new
Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent
Thursday April 23 2020, 5.00pm, The Times
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/topic/boris-johnson
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/topic/politics
Liu Xiaoming said that China and Britain were sharing information and experience in the search for a coronavirus vaccine
The coronavirus pandemic has brought Britain and China closer together, Beijing’s ambassador to London claimed today.
Liu Xiaoming hailed the unprecedented dialogue and “very close work” between the two countries on finding a vaccine.
His comments came amid warnings that Britain should rethink the relationship in the light of issues raised by the pandemic, in particular the reliance on Chinese technology.
“China and the UK are working very closely on a vaccine,” Mr Liu claimed in a webinar with the think tank Asia House. “Our two countries are sharing information and experience, conducting joint scientific research . . . President Xi and Boris Johnson expressed support for the scientists of the two countries to work together on this very important area.”
Each country’s search for a vaccine is separate but Mr Liu hailed co-operation during the pandemic as the model for a relationship.
“In the matter of one month, President Xi and Boris Johnson have had two telephone conversations,” he said.
Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, was also in close contact with his Chinese counterpart, as was Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary and national security adviser. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, held his most recent discussions with his Chinese counterpart yesterday, he said.
“I’ve been here as ambassador for more than ten years and I’ve never seen our top leaders have such intensive communications in such a short time,” Mr Liu said. “I am confident that China and the UK will emerge from this test with a more mature and robust relationship.”
Technology such as the video-conferencing platform Zoom, on which businesses and individuals are increasingly relying, would improve considerably once Huawei’s 5G installation in Britain was complete, he said.
“Once you have Huawai participating in this online technology the speed and quality of these meetings will be even better,” he said. “I know Prime Minister Johnson has a very ambitious plan to have full coverage of the UK by 2025 in 5G. Huawei will be a big help in this.”
Britain’s decision to allow Huawei a role in the network has frayed relations with Washington, which has lobbied for the Chinese telecoms company to be dropped. Since the pandemic, the Trump administration has launched a diplomatic and PR offensive against China, blaming Beijing for the spread of the virus and cutting off funds to the World Health Organisation.
Mr Liu hailed Beijing’s decision to give a further $30 million to the WHO, replacing the funding shortfall left by Washington, and suggested that London and Beijing were natural partners in the strengthening of the multilateral institution that President Trump is abandoning. Britain is continuing to fund the WHO and gave it an additional £65 million last week.
“In the international arena, I think China and the UK work very closely, we are both supporters of multilateralism, both supporters of the WHO, World Trade Organisation,” he said.
“We see the UK as partners for China. I think we are now working with other countries to build a silk road for public health, that is another area that China and the UK can share experience and work together.”
new
Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent
Thursday April 23 2020, 5.00pm, The Times
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/topic/boris-johnson
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/topic/politics
Liu Xiaoming said that China and Britain were sharing information and experience in the search for a coronavirus vaccine
The coronavirus pandemic has brought Britain and China closer together, Beijing’s ambassador to London claimed today.
Liu Xiaoming hailed the unprecedented dialogue and “very close work” between the two countries on finding a vaccine.
His comments came amid warnings that Britain should rethink the relationship in the light of issues raised by the pandemic, in particular the reliance on Chinese technology.
“China and the UK are working very closely on a vaccine,” Mr Liu claimed in a webinar with the think tank Asia House. “Our two countries are sharing information and experience, conducting joint scientific research . . . President Xi and Boris Johnson expressed support for the scientists of the two countries to work together on this very important area.”
Each country’s search for a vaccine is separate but Mr Liu hailed co-operation during the pandemic as the model for a relationship.
“In the matter of one month, President Xi and Boris Johnson have had two telephone conversations,” he said.
Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, was also in close contact with his Chinese counterpart, as was Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary and national security adviser. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, held his most recent discussions with his Chinese counterpart yesterday, he said.
“I’ve been here as ambassador for more than ten years and I’ve never seen our top leaders have such intensive communications in such a short time,” Mr Liu said. “I am confident that China and the UK will emerge from this test with a more mature and robust relationship.”
Technology such as the video-conferencing platform Zoom, on which businesses and individuals are increasingly relying, would improve considerably once Huawei’s 5G installation in Britain was complete, he said.
“Once you have Huawai participating in this online technology the speed and quality of these meetings will be even better,” he said. “I know Prime Minister Johnson has a very ambitious plan to have full coverage of the UK by 2025 in 5G. Huawei will be a big help in this.”
Britain’s decision to allow Huawei a role in the network has frayed relations with Washington, which has lobbied for the Chinese telecoms company to be dropped. Since the pandemic, the Trump administration has launched a diplomatic and PR offensive against China, blaming Beijing for the spread of the virus and cutting off funds to the World Health Organisation.
Mr Liu hailed Beijing’s decision to give a further $30 million to the WHO, replacing the funding shortfall left by Washington, and suggested that London and Beijing were natural partners in the strengthening of the multilateral institution that President Trump is abandoning. Britain is continuing to fund the WHO and gave it an additional £65 million last week.
“In the international arena, I think China and the UK work very closely, we are both supporters of multilateralism, both supporters of the WHO, World Trade Organisation,” he said.
“We see the UK as partners for China. I think we are now working with other countries to build a silk road for public health, that is another area that China and the UK can share experience and work together.”