Western politicians face tough balancing act on visits to Beijing

UK's James Cleverly is latest to travel to Beijing hoping to improve ties and change Chinese foreign policy

The UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly, on Wednesday described his government's relationship with Beijing as complicated and sophisticated". He said the UK's approach was clear-eyed" and pragmatic, neither seeking to isolate the world's second largest economy nor shying away from raising disagreements.

The balancing act may prove difficult. Cleverly is the latest in a series of western government officials - from the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, to the French president, Emmanuel Macron - to have visited China in recent months hoping to repair soured relations and trade ties. Few have had much success.