London ushers in new era of business with Beijing

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Observing China is the essential newsletter to understand the UK-PRC relationship, explained in the context of global developments.

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There’s been a lot to digest since my last newsletter. The resignation of Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), triggered a reshuffle which saw Peter Kyle become the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Kyle attended the first trade dialogue between Britain and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in seven years. Ahead of his meeting, His Majesty’s (HM) Government published a list of some of the notable bilateral business deals which have taken place in the past financial year.

Following the trade meeting, Kyle stated that the economic might of the PRC makes it an ‘unignorable’ trading partner, adding that the lack of resolution to the ‘mega’ embassy issue is not conducive to improving business ties. The trade dialogue also culminated with an expectation that Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, will pay a visit to the PRC early next year.

Meanwhile, the reaction of Donald Trump, President of the United States (US) to the PRC’s show-stealing military parade last week, was slightly reminiscent of a romantic partner affecting deliberate insouciance about a rift: ‘China needs us much more than we need them.’

Welcome back to Observing China.