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TEHRAN, Feb 22 - China would welcome a visit by Britain's finance minister Philip Hammond, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday, a day after the minister had said talk of deploying a British warship in the Pacific had complicated bilateral relations.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - As Britain prepares to leave the European Union at the end of next month, its biggest foreign and trade policy shift in more than 40 years, it is seeking to strengthen diplomatic relationships and trade ties with countries around the world.
Earlier this month defense minister Gavin Williamson said Britain would use military force to support its interests after Brexit and outlined plans to deploy a new aircraft carrier to the Pacific, where London has been seeking to demonstrate its influence in relation to China.
British media reported that China had canceled trade talks with Hammond because it was upset about Williamson's speech.
"China sets great store on Sino-Britain ties, and hopes Britain can earnestly respect China's core interests and concerns, and make efforts for promoting the healthy and stable development of relations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said a daily news briefing.
"As for the issue of Chancellor Hammond visiting China, we have said that we welcome him to visit," Geng added, without elaborating.
A British Ministry of Defence official said the Williamson's speech had been cleared in advance by both Hammond's department and Prime Minister Theresa May's office.
Source: Reuters
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