On April 22, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom (UK) David Lammy at the latter's request.

Wang Yi said, since the beginning of this year, the China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue, Strategic Dialogue and Energy Dialogue have been successfully held. Going forward, dialogues in fields such as artificial intelligence, science and technology, climate change, education, and economy and trade are also under preparation. He said the momentum of deescalation and improvement in China-UK relations has not come easily and requires utmost cherishing. China is ready to work with the UK to follow the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, overcome various disruptions and distractions, steer the bilateral relationship steadily forward, focus on mutually beneficial cooperation, and accumulate more positive agendas. Against the current backdrop of rampant unilateralism and bullying, China and the UK bear the responsibility to uphold the international order established after World War II, the U.N.-centered international system and the multilateral trading regime.

Wang Yi said, the United States has used tariffs as a weapon to launch indiscriminate attacks on other countries, blatantly violating the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and undermining the legitimate rights and interests of other countries. This action, which regresses state-to-state relations to the "law of the jungle", is against the trend of the history that is unpopular and unsustainable. It is encountering resistance and opposition from more and more countries. As a responsible country, China stands up to resist such action, aiming not only to defend its own legitimate rights and interests but also to uphold international rules and the multilateral trading regime. China will remain committed to advancing high-standard opening up, pursuing mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation with other countries, and sharing development opportunities with the world.

David Lammy said that the UK expresses appreciation for the current good momentum of development in bilateral relations and is willing to further enhance exchanges at the high level and other levels between the two countries, conduct regular dialogues on bilateral and multilateral issues of common interest and concern, and jointly address current challenges. The UK has always been an open country, firmly supports free trade and safeguards the multilateral trading regime with the WTO at its core. As permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, the UK and China bear important responsibilities for the sustainable development of the world economy and international trade. David Lammy said the UK is willing to maintain communication with China in this regard.

The two sides also had an exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis and other issues of common interest and concern.