The “golden era” in relations between the UK and China “is over”, Rishi Sunak has declared in his first major policy speech since becoming Prime Minister.

The remark was a clear rejection of the phrase George Osborne used when as chancellor he attempted to frame Britain as Beijing’s “best partner in the West”.

Mr Sunak used his speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet on Monday night to reject the “naive idea” that free trade would result in the emergence of democracy in China.

But he also warned against a return to Cold War-style hostilities, arguing “we cannot simply ignore China’s significance in world affairs”.

The address was an attempt to map out Mr Sunak’s foreign policy vision, including relations with Beijing after he was criticised by Tory China hawks for softening his predecessor Liz Truss’s stance.

Continue reading the full article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/11/28/britains-golden-era-close-engagement-china-says-rishi-sunak/

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