UK Treasury chief visits China to restart economic talks after hiatus

Britain's Treasury chief, Rachel Reeves, is visiting China this weekend to restart economic talks that have been on hold since 2019. She will meet Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing and Shanghai to discuss cooperation. The trip aims to revive the China-U.K. Economic and Financial Dialogue, which was suspended due to the pandemic and worsening relations. Reeves is joined by Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and executives from major financial firms. This visit follows recent meetings between U.K. leaders and Chinese officials, as the Labour government seeks to improve ties with China, the U.K.'s fifth-largest trading partner. Some opposition members have raised concerns about national security and human rights.