The UK government has approved China's construction of a new embassy in London, which is expected to be the largest embassy in Europe, hoping to improve relations with Beijing.
Reuters reported that the UK approved on Tuesday (January 20) the construction of a new Chinese embassy, but with some conditions. The report did not reveal the specific content of the conditions.
The UK government issued a statement saying, "All substantive factors have been taken into account in making this decision. This decision shall be final unless successfully overturned in court."
According to the planning application, the new embassy will become one of the largest diplomatic institutions in the world, covering an area of about 55,000 square meters. This is nearly ten times the size of the current Chinese embassy in central London and much larger than the Chinese embassy in the United States.
The statement also emphasized that maintaining national security remains the top priority, and intelligence agencies have been involved throughout the approval process, developing a series of measures to manage any risks. "After several months of extensive consultations, the Chinese government has agreed to consolidate its seven existing office locations in London into one, which will bring significant security advantages," it said.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854840553525258/
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