U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his desire for a strong and durable relationship with China during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Brazil on Monday. This marks the first encounter between a British leader and Xi in recent years, amid strained relations due to security, human rights concerns, and China’s support for Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Starmer, who took office in July following a decisive Labour Party victory, aims to mend ties with Beijing, which have soured since the last meeting between a U.K. leader and Xi in 2018. “We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful, as we have agreed, and to avoid surprises where possible,” Starmer stated during their discussion on the sidelines of the summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Downing Street emphasized Starmer’s commitment to a “pragmatic” approach in engaging with China, focusing on global stability, enhancing economic cooperation, and addressing climate change and the transition to clean energy.
However, the meeting also addressed contentious issues, including the detention of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy publisher and activist from Hong Kong, who has been imprisoned since December 2020. Lai, a U.K. citizen, faces severe penalties under a national security law imposed by Beijing. According to reports, journalists were asked to leave the room when Starmer raised Lai’s case, highlighting the sensitive nature of the discussion.
Starmer’s office noted that he aimed to engage in “honest and frank” dialogue regarding areas of disagreement, including human rights, the situation in Hong Kong, and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Xi, in response, acknowledged the potential for increased cooperation between the U.K. and China, despite their differences, and stressed the importance of deepening political trust for mutual benefit, as reported by China’s Xinhua state news agency.
This meeting follows a recent visit by U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Beijing, where he held talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, indicating a renewed effort by the U.K. government to engage with China on multiple fronts.
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