Britain's approach in China must go beyond commercial ties: foreign secretary

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Friday Britain's approach in China and East Asia must go beyond the quest for exports or commercial contracts, although they are vital.

"It is right that we should make a distinctive approach to policy-making as regards China and East Asia," Johnson said at Chatham House in London.

In the first major foreign policy speech since his appointment, Johnson said Britain should be realistic enough to accept that the international order needs to change, stressing that Britain was one of the first Western countries to join the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Johnson also called on all members of NATO to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense and backed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's criticism of the contribution other countries make to the alliance.

Describing NATO as the "most durable and successful" defensive alliance in history, Johnson said Trump had a point over spending.

"It cannot be justified that one NATO ally -- America -- accounts for about 70 percent of the alliance's defense spending while the other 27 countries manage only 30 percent between them," Johnson said.

Describing his speech as the first in a series setting out Britain's foreign policy strategy, Johnson said a global approach is in the interests both of Britain and the world.

Regarding Britain's exit from the European Union, he said Britain will continue to work on security of Europe.

"Our role is to be a flying buttress, supportive of the EU project, but outside the main body of the church," he said.

"Now is the time to build a new and productive relationship (with the EU), based on friendship and free trade, and a new European partnership where we continue to develop our work on things that matter to all of us in Europe," Johnson added. Endit