UK wants ‘strong’ relationship with China, says Keir Starmer

Reuters British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in front of a British and Chinese Flag ahead of their bilateral meeting Reuters

Sir Keir Starmer has met President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit, and emphasised the importance of a” powerful UK-China connection” for both countries.

Following a recent deterioration in relationships, the UK prime minister met the Chinese leader for the first time since 2018.

Sir Keir raised the case of the detained Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, Jimmy Lai, saying he was concerned about reports of a “deterioration” in his health.

The PM also signalled a desire for greater organization co-operation, especially on “areas of common participation” such as global stability, culture change and economic development.

Sir Keir met President Xi on the edges of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and, speaking at the start of the gathering, said:” We want our relationships to be steady, tough, respectful, as we have agreed, avoid upsets where possible”.

He added:” The UK will be a predictable, consistent, sovereign actor committed to the rule of law”.

Speaking through a translator, Xi told Sir Keir that the two countries should commit to mutual respect and openness, saying:” China and the UK have broad space for co-operation across various domains, including trade, investment, clean energy, financial services, healthcare and improving our peoples ‘ well-being”.

According to a read-out of the closed-door meeting, the PM laid out the leaders ‘ shared responsibility to work together to advance economic co-operation, trade, and transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables.

Climate change was a focus for the PM, and a Downing Street spokesperson said the PM wants China’s support on global efforts, particularly in light of President-elect Trump’s expected roll back of green policies.

However, Sir Keir also stressed his government’s approach would “always be rooted in the national interests of the UK, but that we would be a predictable and pragmatic partner” to China.

With China’s military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine having prompted criticism from the UK and other Western countries, the PM also said he wanted to “engage honestly and frankly” on areas of disagreement, including on Hong Kong, human rights and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Following the election victory of Labour, the pair had a phone conversation in August, and Sir Keir has now suggested holding a full-bilateral meeting in Beijing or London.

Additionally, the pair agreed that Rachel Reeves ‘ counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, and she should visit Beijing in the following year to discuss economic and financial cooperation.

The Conservative’s shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said:” Britain’s standing on the world stage risks being weakened if the prime minister does not robustly defend our national interest”.

She argued that a constructive dialogue was necessary, but Sir Keir” should have been more vocal about our concerns about human rights, the repressive nature of the Hong Kong national security laws, and the security, safety, and wellbeing of British citizens, such as Jimmy Lai, who deserves to be freed from custody.”

Starmer must outline the assurances he received from President Xi regarding the UK’s pressing issues as part of his alleged reset.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Wang Yi and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in Beijing last month, and the prime minister stated that it was crucial to work with countries like China before the meeting in Brazil.

Theresa May, the country’s last prime minister, met President Xi, who praised the “golden era” of UK-China relations during her 2018 trip there.

However, there have been conflict since then between pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and China’s treatment of the minority Uyghur population in Xinjiang.

Last year, then-Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said China was” the biggest state-based threat to our economic security”.

He added that, along with the current administration, China must work together on issues like global warming and the economy.

After a six-year freeze, Dr. Yu Jie, a senior expert on China at Chatham House International, said the G20 meeting was” critical” for UK-China relations to thaw out and suggested a potential trade deal was in order despite high diplomatic tensions.

” Judging from the readout given by both sides, the tone of the conversation seemed to be positive”, said Dr Yu.

However, it appears that they have not really come to any agreement on the contentious issues when it came to specifics.

Dr. Yu warned that pressure from the US might still be having an impact on both sides ‘ efforts.

If the US is going to put more pressure on the UK to follow US policy, she said, explaining how she anticipated hawkish behavior from the US under Trump.

Reuters Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, looks on as he leaves the Court of Final Appeal by prison van, in Hong Kong in 2021Reuters

Sir Keir also stated that the top priority on his agenda was “boosting support for Ukraine” as he addressed reporters while he was traveling to Rio de Janeiro.

Before the meeting, Downing Street said the prime minister will urge other G20 nations to step up their support for Ukraine or face “unfathomable consequences” if Russia is allowed to be victorious.

The summit follows large-scale missile and drone attacks by Russia across Ukraine over the weekend, and will take place as the conflict approaches its 1,000th day.

And it comes amid reports that the US has authorised the use of long-range missiles it supplies to Ukraine to strike Russia.

Kyiv has so far only used the weapons against targets within its own country that are currently under Russian control.

The UK has also supplied Ukraine with its Storm Shadow missiles and defence officials and ministers have been making the case for Kyiv to be permitted to use them to hit targets inside Russia. But they were not willing to act alone – and had been waiting for the White House to change its mind.

Regarding the missiles in Ukraine, Sir Keir stated that he would not go into “operational details.”

Sir Keir is speaking with G20 leaders from the African Union and the European Union, which represent 19 of the world’s largest economies.

The summit is overshadowed by the absence of President-elect Donald Trump.

If Trump imposes a promised 60 % tariff on Chinese goods entering the US, he has urged allies to adopt a more aggressive strategy toward China. This could spark a global trade war.

World leaders will have the opportunity to exchange notes and get ready for Trump’s upcoming White House visit.

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