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LONDON, 29th November (PTI) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reiterated the UK’s commitment to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India as part of the country’s wider focus on strengthening ties with the Indo-Pacific region.
Speaking at a London mayor’s banquet on Monday night – his first major foreign policy speech since taking office at 10 Downing Street last month – the Anglo-Indian leader reflected on his heritage and committed to promoting the Values of “freedom and liberty”. global openness”.
He also pledged to “do things differently” when it came to China, which he said posed a “systemic challenge” to British values and interests.
“Before I entered politics, I invested in businesses around the world. The opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region are very attractive,” Sunak said.
Read also | China COVID-19 protests: Citizens protesting coronavirus restrictions clash with police in Shanghai.
“By 2050, the Indo-Pacific region will account for more than half of global growth, while Europe and North America combined will only account for a quarter. That’s why we joined the CPTPP, a trans-Pacific trade agreement, with India and seeking cooperation with Indonesia ,”He says.
“Like many others, my grandparents came to the UK via East Africa and the Indian subcontinent and made a living here. In recent years we have hosted thousands of people from Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Ukraine. We are one country and this represents our values , to defend democracy through deeds, not just words,” he noted.
On China, Sunak said he wanted to “improve” Britain’s approach, as he distanced his government from the catchphrase that the former Conservative-led government used to describe the bilateral relationship with China seven years ago.
“Let’s be clear, the so-called ‘Golden Age’ is over, along with the naive idea that trade will lead to social and political reform. But neither should we rely on simple Cold War rhetoric. We recognize that China poses a systemic threat to us. challenge our values and interests, and the challenge becomes more acute as it moves towards a stronger authoritarianism,” he warned.
The 42-year-old former prime minister conceded that Britain could not simply ignore China’s “importance” in world affairs, noting that other major economies such as the US, Canada, Australia and Japan also acknowledged this.
“So we will collectively manage this growing rivalry, including through diplomacy and engagement. Much of this is to significantly improve our resilience, especially our economic security,” Sunak said.
Sunak reiterated his support for the Brexit vision, ruled out alignment with European Union (EU) law and backed cooperation on common issues such as illegal immigration. He also pledged Britain’s support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia as part of Europe’s “collective resolve” to protect democratic values.
“After years of provocation, Russia is challenging the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. China is consciously using all levers of state power in its quest for global influence. Faced with these challenges, short-termism or wishful thinking will not be enough. We cannot rely on Cold War arguments or approaches, or simply sentimentality about the past. So we will make an evolutionary leap in our approach,” he declared.
Sunak confirmed that more details on the outlook for Britain’s foreign policy would be set out in a new year’s update of the “comprehensive review”, which would also include closer cooperation with the Commonwealth.
“Under my leadership, we will not choose the status quo. We will do things differently. We will continue to evolve, always grounded in our enduring belief in freedom, openness, and the rule of law, and in the belief that in this challenging and competitive moment, our interests will be protected … our values will prevail,” he concluded.
The Lord Mayor’s Banquet at Guildhall in London’s financial center is an annual event where the Prime Minister addresses business leaders, international dignitaries and foreign policy experts on foreign policy issues.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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