To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Chinese Government on (a) the Belt and Road initiative and (b) the effects of that initiative on (i) Malaysia, (ii) Myanmar and (iii) Sri Lanka.
Answered on
17 December 2018
The Foreign Secretary last discussed the Belt and Road initiative with his Chinese counterparts on 30 July 2018, when he visited Beijing for the annual UK-China Strategic Dialogue with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. I discussed the initiative with my counterpart Vice Minister Guo in Beijing on 22 July. Both sides confirmed the view expressed during the Prime Minister’s visit to China in January, that the UK and China are well placed to cooperate on the Belt and Road initiative. The Foreign Secretary and I both stressed the importance of the initiative developing in line with international standards, and highlighted the UK’s unique expertise in this area. No specific third countries were discussed.