Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress her Department has made towards the introduction of a new China Fast Stream.

I refer the Hon. Member to the statement made to the House by the previous Foreign Secretary on 24 June 2025. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is enhancing the talent pipeline of China experts by creating a specialised China Pathway within the FCDO's Fast Stream programmes. Starting with the 2026 Fast Stream intake, the China Pathway will enable a small number of new entrants to undertake a structured programme of China-focused jobs and training, including in Mandarin Chinese.