U.K. foreign secretary visits China for first time in 5 years

The Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — Britain's top diplomat, James Cleverly, began a long-awaited visit to China on Wednesday as the two countries attempt to stabilize their ties that have frayed badly in recent years. The trip is the first by a U.K. foreign secretary to China in more than five years, underscoring the downturn in relations over Beijing's curbing of civil liberties in Hong Kong, a former British colony, abuses against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region, China's support for Russia and Britain's close security ties with the United States. Cleverly met first with Vice President Han Zheng, who…