British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly made it a point to raise human rights concerns during his state visit to Beijing on Wednesday. Cleverly held talks with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng and top diplomat Wang Yi, raising issues such as China's crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong and alleged rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a pragmatic working relationship with China due to the global issues that affect both countries.

China's foreign ministry brushed off questions about human rights, stating that Hong Kong and Xinjiang are China's internal affairs. Cleverly's visit comes as the UK government faces criticism for lacking clarity in its approach to China and not taking a stronger stance against Chinese interference abroad. Despite conflicting objectives, the visit is seen as a positive step in facilitating communication and dialogue with China.