The Chinese government is willing to open talks on a trade deal with the UK, new foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said on his first trip to Asia since taking office.
Mr Hunt, who replaced Boris Johnson earlier this month, was speaking at a press conference with Wang Yi, his Chinese counterpart. During a brief visit to the Chinese capital, he was also scheduled to meet Premier Li Keqiang and Yang Jiechi, the Chinese Communist party’s most senior foreign affairs official.
Chinese willingness to negotiate a trade agreement will come as a relief to Theresa May’s government, which has touted such pacts as a priority after the UK formally leaves the EU next year.