By Andrew MacAskill LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Britain has approved construction of a new Chinese embassy in London after stalling the decision for seven years over planning disputes and a diplomatic standoff that has complicated efforts to repair damaged relations between the two nations.

Kemi Badenoch has told Sir Keir Starmer to refuse China’s plans for a new super-embassy in London. Speaking at a protest outside the proposed site, the Conservative leader said the Prime Minister should reject the embassy before he visits China later this month.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called for the Government to stop China’s proposed central London “mega-embassy” when she spoke at a protest on Saturday.The Government is facing mounting calls to reject Beijing’s plans for the embassy at Royal Mint Court over security concerns.

By approving China's plans for a mega-embassy in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has gambled on winning closer trade ties and investment from China at the risk ​of angering politicians in Britain and the United States.

Britain’s main opposition leader joined a protest Saturday against China’s planned new embassy in London, days before a deadline for the government to approve or block the project.