RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 19 (Alliance News):UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of a “strong UK-China relationship” while confronting Chinese President Xi Jinping over key issues during their meeting on Monday at the G20 summit.
This marked the first bilateral meeting between the British prime minister and the Chinese president since February 2018.
Starmer expressed the UK’s desire for “consistent, durable, respectful” relations with China but also raised concerns over contentious matters that have strained ties, including the case of British media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, who is imprisoned in Hong Kong.
In response, Xi Jinping acknowledged the potential for further cooperation between the two countries, stating that China and Britain should “uphold their strategic partnership” and explore new avenues for collaboration.
However, Xi also alluded to the challenges posed by deteriorating ties between China and Western nations, especially as US President-elect Donald Trump is expected to return to a hardline policy toward China.
He described the current global situation as a “new period of turbulence and change” and highlighted the need for both nations to address global challenges together.
The meeting comes amid ongoing tensions between the UK and China, notably regarding the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong and China’s growing ties with Russia amidst the Ukraine conflict. Recent years have also seen allegations of Chinese espionage and cyberattacks in the UK, further complicating relations.
Despite these tensions, Starmer remains optimistic about the potential for a reset in relations, emphasizing the need for open dialogue and stronger understanding between the two countries.
He also proposed holding a full bilateral meeting in Beijing or London and suggested that UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves visit Beijing next year to discuss economic cooperation.
