BEIJING - British finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Jan 11 during a visit to Beijing that she intended to have “pragmatic” relations with Chinese leaders to boost exports to the world’s second-largest economy.

Under pressure from market turmoil at home, Ms Reeves is seeking to revive high-level economic and financial talks that have been frozen since 2019.

She joins a UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue meeting in Beijing with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng on Jan 11 before travelling to Shanghai, accompanied by Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and other finance leaders.

She is due to discuss financial services, trading ties and the importance of cooperation on issues like climate change, the Treasury said.

Her appearance offers a chance to persuade investors that she has plans to deal with a sharp increase in British government borrowing costs, due in part to a global bond selloff which threatens to derail her budget plans.

“The fiscal rules that I set out in my budget in October are non-negotiable and growth is the number one mission of this government to make our country better off,” Ms Reeves told reporters after visiting a Brompton bicycles shop in Beijing.

“That’s why I’m in China to unlock tangible benefits for British businesses exporting and trading around the world to ensure that we have greater access to the second-largest economy in the world.”

Reeves’ visit follows a dialogue opened in 2024 between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping, the first between the two countries’ leaders since 2018.

“By finding common ground on trade and investment while being candid about our differences and upholding national security as the first duty of this government, we can build a long-term economic relationship with China that works in the national interest,” Ms Reeves said in a statement.

The approach taken by the Labour government, elected in July, contrasts with the previous Conservative administration which took a robust approach to differences with China - particularly over human rights, Hong Kong and allegations of Chinese espionage.

Asked on Jan 9 if Ms Reeves would raise human-rights issues, Mr Starmer’s spokesperson said her visit would fit with London’s stance that it would take a strategic approac...