China says more Western countries will follow Britain to improve ties
British government has strengthened financial and diplomatic ties with Beijing, saying it can achieve more by raising issues such as human rights behind the scenes than by publicly hectoring mainland
More Western countries will follow Britain in improving ties with China, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
He described relations with London over the past year as a “bright spot” in China’s diplomacy.
Sino-British relations have been a bright spot this year. I believe that this important development in reality presages future prospects for China's relations with Western countries
The British government has moved forcefully to strengthen financial and diplomatic ties with Beijing, with Chinese President Xi Jinping paying a state visit to Britain in October to seal what both call a “golden time” in relations.
Earlier this year, Britain broke ranks with the United States, its close ally, by signing up as a founding member of China’s new infrastructure investment bank.
“Sino-British relations have been a bright spot this year,” Wang told Chinese media while on a trip to Cyprus, according to a statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry.
“Xi Jinping's 'super state visit' to Britain was enormously successful, and Sino-British relations have entered a 'golden time',” Wang added.
