UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the end of this month, during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), amid suspicion Britain does not want to be “too tough” on Beijing, The Times reported on Monday.

One senior diplomatic source told the newspaper that the meeting was expected to take place at the White House, but this had not been “100 per cent confirmed.”

The 76th UN General Assembly (UNGA) is opening on September 14. The high-level week will start from September 21 to 27. Mr Johnson is expected to hold bilateral talks with Biden during his four-day trip to the U.S. for the UNGA, The Times said.

It added that the prime minister would try to mend relations with Washington.

Downing Street had asked Biden’s administration to have the meeting coincide with the UNGA trip, the newspaper specified. Sources told The Times that there is “a suspicion in Washington that Mr Johnson doesn’t want to be too tough on Beijing” and Mr Biden would use the opportunity during talks with Mr Johnson to get the prime minister to support the U.S., which sees “China as the great strategic challenge of the 21st century.”

One senior diplomatic source told the newspaper that if London wanted to influence issues like Russia, China, and climate change, it would not be able to do so alone.

(Sputnik/NAN)