China asks UK to support construction of its diplomatic premises in London

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Thursday asked the UK to support the construction of its diplomatic premises in London.

“Providing support and convenience for the construction of diplomatic premises is an international obligation of host countries," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news conference in Beijing, according to a transcript of the briefing.

Lin's comments came after British Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle said: "If China wants to have a relationship with Britain that is fit for the 2020s and fit for China as it is today and not 50 years ago and not 100 years ago, then its counterparts that it wants to trade with, to do business with, to negotiate with, must be able to have facilities fit for that time as well."

Lin responded: "Both China and the UK need to build new premises and should render each other support," said.

China's plan to turn the historic former home of the Royal Mint Court, maker of British coins, into the largest embassy in Europe, has been a point of contention.

One of the most disputed parts of the embassy is the building plan's “greyed-out” sections where the purpose of the rooms remains unclear, according to the BBC.

Kyle travelled to China to hold the first UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) talks in seven years in Beijing.