China Vice Premier and UK finance minister continue reset in London

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves in London on Sunday, ahead of the China-U.S. trade talks in the capital.

He, the Chinese leader of the China-UK Economic and Financial Dialog, had in-depth discussions with Reeves on China-UK economic and financial cooperation and issues of mutual concern.

He said China and the UK should work together to effectively implement the important consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 

It was stressed that both countries should aim to promote mutual benefits to ensure the sustained, healthy, and steady development of China-UK economic relations.

Reeves said that the UK highly values its cooperation with China and is eager to enhance communication. She also highlighted the ambition of bringing new momentum to economic cooperation between the two countries.

China-UK ties have recently shown signs of reset. In January, Reeves visited Beijing and met He, securing over $800 million in commercial agreements. Now, the Chinese Vice Premier is in London for the return visit.

As for the UK and the U.S., their relationship holds firm amid rising trade tensions. The U.S. temporarily spared the UK from a 50 percent tariff on steel and aluminum with both sides pushing to finalize a deal to reduce broader tariffs.

London will host delegates from China and the U.S. this week for trade talks to try and break an impasse in negotiations.

The meetings in the UK capital follow constructive discussions in Geneva in May, where both countries agreed to a 90-day tariff rollback.

Last Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S President Donald Trump held a 90-minute phone call - their first since the trade war reignited in February.

Vice Premier He leads the Chinese delegation, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and, for the first time, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick representing Washington.

Trump said on social media that "it should go well."