Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer on Thursday met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to building a long-term and strategic partnership between the two countries, while keeping channels open for dialogue on areas of disagreement.
Following the meeting, Starmer said that economic growth in the United Kingdom is closely linked to engagement with major global powers. He noted that the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in a manner that benefits both nations, while also allowing space for frank and open conversations on differing perspectives. Starmer added that his priority as Prime Minister remains delivering outcomes in the interest of the British people.
During the talks, President Xi highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation between China and the United Kingdom across multiple sectors, including education and finance. He also underscored the potential for joint research initiatives and industrial collaboration in emerging and strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, biosciences, new energy, and low-carbon technologies.
This visit marked the first trip by a UK Prime Minister to China since 2018, reflecting renewed high-level diplomatic engagement after several years of strained relations. Ties between London and Beijing have faced challenges in recent years, particularly following developments in Hong Kong.
Starmer confirmed that issues related to human rights were raised during the meeting, including concerns surrounding the prosecution of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen. He said the discussions were conducted respectfully, emphasising that engagement with China provides opportunities for cooperation as well as space to address disagreements.
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