Keir Starmer promises better UK relations with China after Xi Jinping meeting

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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressing his commitment to developing a relationship between the two nations that is steady, lasting, and respectful.

On Monday at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Starmer had a discussion with Xi and suggested organizing additional high-level meetings afterward. This would include a one-on-one meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, which could take place in either Beijing or London.

"We aim for our relationships to be steady, lasting, and respectful, and as we’ve discussed, we want to minimize unexpected situations whenever we can," Starmer stated.

Downing Street reported that Starmer brought up issues related to human rights, the sanctions imposed by China on UK lawmakers, and the situation of Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media entrepreneur.

Starmer also announced that Rachel Reeves, the UK's chancellor, will engage in discussions with China to strengthen economic and financial relations between the two nations. She is anticipated to travel to Beijing early next year.

Starmer stated, “Having a solid relationship between the UK and China is crucial for both nations and for the global community as a whole. The UK aims to be a reliable, steady, and independent player that upholds the rule of law.”

As the possibility of president-elect Donald Trump imposing worldwide tariffs, particularly on China, looms, Starmer is keen on keeping diplomatic ties with Beijing. He sees this as crucial for enhancing the UK’s economic growth, given that China is a significant trading partner.

Following his discussion with Starmer, Xi mentioned that China and the UK had significant opportunities for collaboration in various areas, such as trade, renewable energy, financial services, and healthcare.

Xi stated, "We aim to establish new pathways in the relationship between China and the UK as the world evolves, highlighting the importance of our partnership in today’s context and its impact globally."

Starmer expressed his enthusiasm for Reeves to connect with China’s vice-premier He Lifeng at the beginning of next year. He aims for this meeting to discuss additional investment opportunities and to ensure fairer conditions for businesses.

He also mentioned that David Lammy, the foreign secretary, recently addressed British concerns in Beijing regarding issues like "human rights and parliamentary sanctions, Taiwan, the South China Sea, and our common interests in Hong Kong."

Starmer expressed: "We are worried about the reports regarding the decline in Jimmy Lai's condition."

The new Labour government is examining the relationship between the UK and China. They are likely to maintain a positive dialogue with Beijing while also implementing strict controls on trade related to national security concerns.

Downing Street stated that Starmer aimed to collaborate with China on issues like global stability, environmental concerns, and economic development. This marked the first encounter between a British Prime Minister and Xi since Theresa May's visit to Beijing to meet the Chinese president in 2016.

The relationship between China and Britain has soured significantly since May's meeting with Xi, moving away from the so-called "golden era" that Lord David Cameron touted during his time as Conservative Prime Minister.

Rishi Sunak, the former Conservative Prime Minister, shifted to a more assertive stance regarding Beijing after facing pressure from China critics within his own party.

Starmer plans to take advantage of the Rio summit to conduct several one-on-one meetings. This initiative is part of a broader international journey that he's been on since taking office as prime minister in July. His visit is significant as it is the first time a British prime minister has traveled to Brazil in 12 years.