Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Denis Murphy (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 24 February 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

UK-China Relations

Question: Given my right hon. Friend's rather special relationship with the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, can he comment on the US's new approach to China and inform the House whether that new approach will impact in any way on the policies of the United Kingdom?

Answer: My hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that I spoke to my new friend in advance of her trip to China. I think that the messages she gave to the Chinese about the determination of the whole of the American Government to engage with China in a new way is wholly welcome. There was, I think, in Secretary Clinton's remarks in Beijing an important recognition of the changed balance of power in the world and of China's centrality to addressing many of the big global problems we face—not least economic and environmental problems and nuclear proliferation.

Secondary information