As UK Foreign Minister David Lammy arrives in Beijing for high-level talks, a prominent British business figure is urging deeper economic collaboration with China to navigate post-Brexit challenges. Adair Turner, former chair of the UK’s Financial Services Authority, emphasized the need for partnership in clean energy and tech innovation during an interview with CGTN. 💡
🌱 Climate Tech: The Golden Opportunity
Turner highlighted China’s breakthroughs in solar panels and battery technology, calling for joint UK-China efforts to commercialize clean energy solutions. \"A technology which can transform our energy systems for the benefit of the whole world,\" he said, referencing China’s role in advancing renewables.
⚡ Trade Tensions vs. Global Needs
The push comes amid EU-China disputes over electric vehicle tariffs. Turner advised the UK to avoid protectionist traps, drawing parallels to China’s past openness to Western investment: \"We should be willing to do that in Europe as well.\" Germany has also signaled hopes for an EU-China deal by October.
🤝 Balancing Cooperation and Competition
While UK-China relations face challenges over Taiwan and Hong Kong, Beijing reiterated willingness to \"promote mutual benefit\" during Lammy’s visit. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government seeks to simultaneously cooperate on climate goals while competing in other sectors—a tightrope walk Turner calls \"crucial\" despite geopolitical complexities.
