It is not in the best interests of the United Kingdom to have a foreign policy toward China based on "strong ideology with a limited regard to facts and an active dislike of communism and internationalism", a leading professor emeritus from Oxford University said.

Robert Walker, an emeritus fellow at Green Templeton College, noted that such views are supported by right-wingers in the United States and some politicians in Britain.

There is a great deal of ignorance about China.

Robert Walker, professor at Beijing Normal University and leading professor emeritus of Oxford University

"There is evidence that many British politicians believe that the Westminster way of doing things is superior to that done elsewhere, that anything that smacks of communism is an existential threat to 'Western values', with all proponents of communism presumed to be actively intent on destroying the capitalist system," said Walker, who is now a professor at Beijing Normal University.

"There is a great deal of ignorance about China," he said, adding that Britain desperately needs strong trading relations with China in the wake of Brexit. But this imperative has been ambushed by US political, security, and commercial interests.

"(US President Donald) Trump has also fueled a discourse that China is expansionist, wishes to undermine Western interests, and to destroy capitalism and, with it, the American way of life," Walker said. "While Britain remains as dependent on the US as it currently is, economically, ideologically, and militarily, its trade and foreign policy always carries the US thumbprint."

Walker, having enjoyed a career as a public official, researcher and academic in Britain, moved to Beijing to work as a professor following his retirement from Oxford University.

He worked with Chinese scholars to undertake research on social issues and public policy in China, and to disseminate the results nationally and internationally.

ALSO READ: UK should make independent decisions on its ties with China

While living in Beijing, Walker said he has learned a little about Chinese culture, but more about his ignorance of his own Western culture and wrongheaded presumptions about China and Chinese culture.

He notes that most Chinese people he has met when doing his research are generally content with the present system.

Even Chinese people see government making mistakes, they continue to trust government, he said. "Government is far from deaf. We (Westerners) might call it surveillance. Here, it is seen as government keeping in touch with the people. There is, to my ears, no demand for Western democracy which is seen as a cultural imposition. This, I admit, has been my biggest surprise."

For most of the time since 2015,Sino-UK relations had enjoyed a "golden era" following President Xi Jinping's visit to Britain. But recently the gloss has come off that relationship because of the UK's decision to remove Chinese technology company Huawei from its 5G telecoms infrastructure network.

Whereas Britain in the 20th century saw political and economic power as a zero-sum game, as the US does in the 21st century, China does not.

Robert Walker, professor at Beijing Normal University and leading professor emeritus of Oxford University

The UK has further soured relations by suspending an extradition treaty with Hong Kong, in response to China's approval of the National Security Law for the special administrative region.

Better world for everyone

It is in Britain's interest, he said, to develop positive bilateral relationships with countries such as China and it is only by working together that they can build a better world for everyone.

"Whereas Britain in the 20th century saw political and economic power as a zero-sum game, as the US does in the 21st century, China does not," Walker argues. "Maybe this is because China is the underdog and does not risk losing the ability to throw its weight around."

He points out that China has a rich culture and is becoming a great power. In Britain's case, it was a great power and its rich culture enables it to have greater influence than its current standing warrants. Walker said it is self-evident that both countries can contribute much to each other and, through active engagement, better appreciate their shared interests.

"Whatever the political rhetoric, diplomatic, educational, cultural, and business-oriented engagement must increase to identify common concerns, build understanding, strengthen internationalism and to avoid counterproductive conflict.

"This means more exchanges of students, academics, policymakers, and business folks and more international tourism when COVID-19 permits. It means more joint ventures, more international gatherings, more collaborative research. It means more access to cultural resources, and more open access to international learning and opinion, via both mass and social media."

READ MORE: UK, 4 other countries urged to adhere to non-interference