Policy paper

China-UK High Level Security Dialogue: Communique

Published 13 June 2016

This was published under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government

On 13 June 2016, Secretary-General of the Central Commission on Political and Legal Affairs (CCPLA) Wang Yongqing and the UK National Security Adviser Mark Lyall Grant co-chaired the first China-UK High Level Security Dialogue.

The two sides agreed that this first dialogue was an important measure to implement the Joint Statement on the Global Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century.

At the dialogue, the two sides had in-depth discussions and agreed the direction of future cooperation in counter-terrorism, cyber crime, organised crime, illegal migration and related fields.

The two sides also had bilateral discussions with relevant departments. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in security, law enforcement and justice issues between their two countries and to increase communication and coordination in the UN and other multilateral fora to work together against global threats according to the principle of equality and mutual trust, and sincere pragmatism.

1. Counter-terrorism

On counter-terrorism, the UK and China agree:

• in the face of ever more serious challenges for the international community in fighting terrorism that it is in both sides’ interests to develop their bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism; in their anti-terrorism cooperation the two sides will recognise each others’ concerns about major security interests and develop pragmatic cooperation to tackle terrorist threats faced in common and individually.

• to establish cooperation mechanisms and develop effective coordination to protect the two countries citizens, diplomatic missions and overseas economic interests.

• to share experiences of related measures to cut off the finances of terrorist organisations and to exchange information on legislation effected and implemented.

• to deepen the exchange of experience on counter-terrorism, including through a new track 2 dialogue and to work together to resolve the root causes of terrorism and extremism.

2. Cyber crime and related matters

On cyber crime and related matters, the UK and China agree:

• not to conduct or support cyber enabled theft of intellectual property, trade secrets or confidential business information with the intent of providing commercial advantage.

• to hold discussions on combating cyber crime and related cyber security matters through the mechanism of a China-UK security dialogue, as well as the China-UK annual working conference on organised crime, with the aim of sharing intelligence and experience. Furthermore, cooperation in combating online child sexual exploitation will take place through initiatives such as the WeProtect summit.

• to increase cooperation on cyber security related incidents and emergencies, agreeing to respond promptly to any request for information or assistance from the other participant in relation to malicious activities, in accordance with their respective national legislation and relevant international obligations. This will include, through the UK-China security dialogue, promoting information exchange and establishing a route of escalation for resolving problems.

• that through the mechanism of the China-UK security dialogue, both parties will strengthen cooperation in the field of law enforcement in order to prevent and combat the use of the internet to incite, recruit, finance and plan terrorist activities.

• to maintain close contact and improve understanding through the mechanism of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led UK-China cyber dialogues. Both parties welcome the 2015 Report of the UN Group of Governmental Experts in the Field of Telecommunications in the Context of International Security and confirm that international law, in particular the UN Charter, is applicable to the use of information and communications technologies.

• to recognise the necessity of improving the cyber skills of their own organisations and personnel, and in future will share their experiences of doing so.

• that this mutual understanding will provide a good basis for both participants to achieve progress. The two countries will, on the basis of equality, mutual trust and openness, continue to work pragmatically to deepen cooperation in order to achieve measurable and sustainable progress together in this important area. Both participants agree to monitor progress on a regular basis and continue to increase dialogue and cooperation in new areas of mutual concern in the future.

3. Fighting organised crime

On fighting organised crime, the UK and China agree:

• to build on the platform of the Annual Working Conference on law enforcement in order to strengthen drug prohibition, fight economic crimes including financial crimes, illegal migration and other mutually important areas of law enforcement cooperation. They will actively seek pragmatic and effective means of investigating cases and will push forward the development of joint investigations and joint operations.

• to actively implement the China-UK Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, to respond in a timely fashion to requests for assistance, strengthen cooperation on the pursuit of fugitives, asset recovery and return, anti-money laundering and related crimes. The two sides further support the establishment of a new MOU between the Financial Intelligence Unit in the People’s Bank of China and the Financial Intelligence Unit in the UK National Crime Agency.

• to strengthen cooperation to combat illegal migration and people trafficking, actively research the introduction of new technological means to improve working methods to verify returns, and work together on the challenges of verifying the identities of illegal migrants.

• to strengthen the exchange of information relating to countering organised illegal migration activities, share experience of case management and focus on developing our cooperation in the identification and arrest of organised crime groups and develop joint investigations into cases of particular importance to both sides.

• to take forward case by case co-operation on extradition of criminal suspects in line with respective legal processes.

4. Cooperation on international and regional security

The UK and China will share ideas and reach important consensus on matters of mutual concern including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, counter-proliferation and other global and regional security issues.

The two sides agree to stay in close contact and together make efforts to protect international and regional peace and security.