China should return Britain’s willingness to mend ties: ex-UK trade secretary Mandelson

Beijing also described as better positioned than most countries to broker peace in Ukraine war, but its economic nationalism is a concern

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Peter Mandelson, a former British trade secretary, is believed to be close to Keir Starmer, the country’s new prime minister. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:11pm, 17 Sep 2024Updated: 1:05am, 18 Sep 2024

Beijing should reciprocate the new British government’s willingness to re-engage with China to mend their frosty relations, an influential former British trade secretary said on Monday.

Speaking at the University of Hong Kong, Peter Mandelson also called on China to step up mediation efforts to help broker peace in Russia’s grinding war against Ukraine.

While the new government faced “colossal challenges” to retrieve Britain’s global clout, Mandelson said, he was “optimistic” about improved bilateral ties with Beijing under Keir Starmer, the country’s first Labour prime minister since 2010.

“I am optimistic because the incoming government has decided that it wants to engage with China after many years of a very poor, deteriorating relationship,” said Mandelson, also a former European trade commissioner.

“And the incoming Labour government wants to change that course and I hope that China will reciprocate in that re-engagement.”

Beijing last year reportedly asked Mandelson – still an influential figure in British politics and believed to be close to Starmer – to help persuade foreign investors to return to China, despite its slowing economy and deteriorating business environment.