Rachel Reeves: UK ‘must cooperate’ with China on areas of mutual interest

Rachel Reeves has said that if the government is to succeed in its pursuit of economic growth, it must help British businesses export around the world.

The chancellor insisted her visit to China last week delivered a “set of tangible benefits to ensure that British firms have greater access to the Chinese market, while safeguarding our national security”.

She added: “In Beijing and Shanghai, I was clear that whilst we must cooperate on areas of mutual interest, we will confidently challenge on areas where we disagree.

“I expressed our country’s real economic and trade concerns to the Chinese, including trade imbalances and economic security.

“And I raised concerns about Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, human rights and restrictions on rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, including the case of Jimmy Lai, and the completely unjustified sanctions against British parliamentarians.”

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