UK wants 'strong' relationship with China, says Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer recently had a meeting with President Xi Jinping during the G20 summit, highlighting how crucial it is for the UK and China to maintain a robust relationship that benefits both nations.

This meeting marked the first occasion in which a British prime minister met with the Chinese president face-to-face since 2018, amidst a recent decline in diplomatic relations.

Sir Keir brought up the situation of Jimmy Lai, the jailed pro-democracy advocate from Hong Kong, expressing worry over reports that his health has been "declining."

The Prime Minister expressed a wish to enhance collaboration with businesses, especially in key areas where they can work together, including global stability, climate change, and economic development.

Sir Keir had a conversation with President Xi during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the beginning of their meeting, he expressed, "We aim for our relationship to be steady, long-lasting, and respectful, as we have previously discussed, and we hope to minimize unexpected developments."

He stated, "The UK will be a reliable and steady nation that respects the rule of law and operates independently."

Using a translator, Xi conveyed to Sir Keir that both nations should prioritize respect and transparency in their relationship. He stated, "China and the UK have many opportunities to collaborate in different areas, such as trade, investment, clean energy, financial services, healthcare, and enhancing the well-being of our citizens."

According to a summary of the private meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized that the leaders all have a collective duty to collaborate in achieving global stability, enhancing economic cooperation and trade, and transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

The Prime Minister emphasized the significance of climate change, pointing out that both nations are crucial in facilitating the worldwide shift towards clean energy.

A representative from Downing Street stated that the Prime Minister is seeking China's cooperation on international initiatives, especially considering the anticipated changes to environmental policies under President-elect Trump.

Nonetheless, Sir Keir emphasized that his government's strategy would consistently focus on the UK's national interests, while also ensuring that they would be a reliable and practical partner for China.

As China's military backing for Russia's conflict in Ukraine has drawn criticism from the UK and other Western nations, the Prime Minister expressed his desire to have an open and straightforward dialogue about the issues where they differ, such as Hong Kong, human rights, and Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Their initial encounter comes after a phone call in August, which took place following Labour's election win. Sir Keir has now suggested a comprehensive face-to-face meeting in either Beijing or London.

The two also decided that Chancellor Rachel Reeves should travel to Beijing next year to talk about economic and financial collaboration with her Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Prior to the meeting in Brazil, the prime minister emphasized the importance of connecting with major economies such as China. Last month, Foreign Secretary David Lammy had discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, along with Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, during his visit to Beijing.

The most recent British prime minister to hold talks with President Xi was Theresa May. During her trip to China in 2018, she praised a "golden era" in the relationship between the UK and China.

Since that time, tensions have arisen regarding various matters, such as how China handles the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang and the situation of pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

In the previous year, Rishi Sunak, who was serving as the Conservative Prime Minister at the time, stated that China posed "the most significant state-sponsored threat to our economic safety."

However, similar to the present administration, he emphasized the importance of collaborating with China on matters such as climate change and the world economy.

While heading to the summit in Rio de Janeiro, Sir Keir told reporters that prioritizing support for Ukraine was his main focus.

Ahead of the meeting, Downing Street announced that the prime minister plans to encourage other G20 countries to enhance their assistance for Ukraine. Otherwise, they could encounter "unimaginable consequences" if Russia is permitted to win.

The summit comes after extensive missile and drone strikes carried out by Russia throughout Ukraine over the weekend, coinciding with the ongoing conflict nearing its 1,000th day.

This news comes as reports indicate that the United States has given the green light for Ukraine to use the long-range missiles it has supplied to target Russia.

So far, Kyiv has only utilized the weapons against targets in Russian-occupied areas within its own borders.

The UK has provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, and for several months, military officials and government ministers have been advocating for Ukraine to be allowed to use them to strike targets within Russia. However, they were hesitant to pursue this action independently and have been waiting for a shift in position from the White House.

Downing Street did not confirm if the UK would align with the US but did leave the possibility open for Kyiv to utilize the Storm Shadow missiles provided by Britain.

Sir Keir is in discussions with fellow G20 leaders, who represent 19 of the biggest economies globally, along with representatives from the African Union and the European Union.

The summit is significantly impacted by the fact that President-elect Donald Trump is not present.

Trump has urged his allies to adopt a stronger stance against China, warning that if he goes ahead with his threat of a 60% tariff on Chinese imports into the US, it could lead to a worldwide trade conflict.

This summit will give global leaders an initial opportunity to exchange ideas and get ready for Trump's anticipated return to the White House.

Downing Street mentioned that the prime minister will prioritize forging partnerships aimed at boosting economic growth and security during the summit. He will also emphasize speeding up the transition to a cleaner environment and the adoption of renewable energy, while providing assistance for the economic progress of developing nations.

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