Britain’s foreign minister Yvette Cooper is scheduled to begin a diplomatic mission to Asia on Monday, with stops planned in both China and India to address pressing worldwide concerns ranging from regional conflicts to recent disease outbreaks.
During her visit to China, Cooper is set to hold meetings with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on June 2. Following these discussions, she will head to the southern tech hub of Shenzhen for a science and technology-focused program scheduled for the following day, according to government officials.
The announcement came Sunday, following earlier reports about the planned diplomatic visit that cited multiple sources last month.
The trip builds on recent diplomatic progress between the two nations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese leader Xi Jinping celebrated improved relations during the British leader’s January visit to China, committing to enhanced cooperation in trade, investment and technology sectors for shared benefits.
Cooper’s diplomatic tour to China and India — representing the world’s second-largest and sixth-largest economies respectively — takes place amid rising global tensions, increasing oil costs following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, and Britain’s ongoing economic challenges with slow growth.
The foreign minister is scheduled to arrive in India on June 4, where meetings are planned with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar along with business leaders, academic figures and government officials working on the UK-India Vision 2035 program.
Both nations established a free trade agreement last year designed to increase bilateral commerce and enhance market opportunities across various industries. However, India’s trade secretary Rajesh Agrawal noted last month that progress has faced obstacles due to London’s recent restrictions on steel imports.
According to British government officials, Cooper’s meetings “with these two major powers are expected to be focused on tackling the most significant global challenges.”
Starmer, who has faced significant approval rating challenges domestically, became the first British prime minister to visit China in eight years. His centre-left Labour government has prioritized rebuilding relationships with China as part of its foreign policy agenda.
