Chinese Foreign Ministry

In response to an exclusive Reuter's report suggesting that UK lines up new ambassador to help rebuild China ties,MK sport Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday that currently China-UK relations are improving, with steady progress in exchanges and cooperation across various fields. The embassy has played an important and positive role in this process. 

"Regarding the relevant media report, I currently do not have any information to provide," Guo said.

According to Reuters, Britain has lined up a Mandarin-speaking diplomat whose father was a governor of Hong Kong as the next ambassador to China, according to three sources, and he is expected to take up the position later this year.

Peter Wilson, who worked briefly as principal private secretary to former prime minister Boris Johnson and has served as the British ambassador to the Netherlands and Brazil, is expected to replace the current ambassador, Caroline Wilson, in the next few months, according to two of the sources, the report said.

Peter Wilson previously worked at the British embassy in Beijing where he was political counsellor from 2007 to 2010 and as a more junior diplomat from 1995 to 1998, according to his biography on UK foreign ministry's website.

The new appointment comes at a time when Britain's Labour government continues to step up its diplomatic engagement with China after years of tensions under successive Conservative governments, according to Reuters.

China and the UK held the 10th China-UK Strategic Dialogue in London on February 13. The two sides holding a new round of strategic dialogue after seven years speaks to both sides' willingness of following up on the common understandings between leaders of the two countries, and stabilizing and improving the bilateral ties, Guo said at a routine press conference on February 14.

Both sides agreed to follow the important common understandings between leaders of the two countries, cement strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding, uphold openness and cooperation as the underlying feature, explore ways to expand common interests and work for the steady and sustained growth of China-UK relations, Guo said.

Global Times