RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 18: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Sheraton Hotel to attend the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 18, 2024. . Keir Starmer will attend his first G20 summit since being elected Prime Minister of the UK. He is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first British prime minister to do so in six years. (Photo credit: Stefan Rousseau – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to establish a “coherent and sustainable” relationship between the two countries, announcing efforts to mend relations between London and China at the G20 summit. I asked strongly.
The meeting in Brazil was the first between leaders of the two countries since 2018, with Starmer speaking in an upbeat tone, saying he wants to engage with Beijing on areas such as trade, the economy and climate, as well as engage more broadly in science and technology. said. , Health and Education.
The British leader also said he would begin plans for a “full bilateral relationship” with Mr Xi in either Beijing or London, with Finance Minister Rachel Reeves meeting Vice Premier He Lifeng next year and economic He said he looked forward to discussing financial cooperation.
At the outset of the meeting, Mr Starmer told Xi: “We want our relationship to be consistent, lasting and respectful as agreed, and to avoid surprises as much as possible, and we want to continue our dialogue.” By strengthening this, we should be able to gain stronger understanding.”
“The UK will be a predictable and consistent sovereign actor committed to the rule of law and the multilateral system,” he said, praising Xi’s frankness during their August phone call and praising the relationship between the two countries. He added that he would stand with Xi in raising differences.
According to Xinhua News Agency, President Xi told Starmer that China and the UK should adopt a rational and objective perspective on each other’s development, and that the two countries should strengthen strategic communication and deepen political mutual trust. That’s what he said.
The cooperative tone of the meeting was in stark contrast to relations under the previous Conservative government, which took a firm approach to differences with China, particularly over human rights, Hong Kong and Chinese spying allegations.
The British leader is keen to boost trade and investment from other countries, as Mr Starmer focuses on restarting economic growth to fulfill his July election promise to rebuild public services.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “They also discussed deepening their bilateral partnership on trade and investment, health, education and other areas of mutual interest.”
A spokesperson said the two agreed to make climate change a priority on their agenda.
Mr Starmer also said he wanted to have frank dialogue with his Chinese counterpart on issues where the two countries have different viewpoints, such as human rights, Hong Kong and Ukraine, the spokesman said.
Mr Starmer has long said he wants to build a “realistic” relationship with China that aims to boost trade and is “rooted in Britain’s national interests”, but that task could become more difficult if he becomes the next US president. There is sex.
President Donald Trump followed through on his threat to impose tariffs on all imported goods. China is the UK’s sixth largest trading partner, accounting for 5% of trade in goods and services worth £86.5bn ($112bn), and the UK’s market share of trade with China is 1.2%.
This meeting was held in light of the government’s increasing involvement in China following British Foreign Secretary Lamy’s visit to China last month, and criticism from the opposition Conservative Party, which remains wary of China, has softened. I am doing it.
