Reuters
Sir Keir Starmer met President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit and stressed the importance of a “strong UK-China relationship” for both countries.
It was the first time a British prime minister had met the Chinese president in person since 2018, following a recent deterioration in relations.
Sir Keir raised the case of detained Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, expressing concern over reports of a “deterioration” in his health.
The Prime Minister also expressed his desire for greater cooperation between businesses, particularly in “areas of mutual cooperation” such as international stability, climate change and economic growth.
Sir Keir met President Xi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and, speaking at the start of the meeting, said: “We want our relationship to be consistent, lasting, respectful, as we we agreed, and that they avoid surprises. when possible.”
He added: “The UK will be a sovereign, predictable and consistent actor, committed to the rule of law.”
Speaking through a translator, Xi told Sir Keir that the two countries should commit to mutual respect and openness, saying: “China and the United Kingdom have broad space for cooperation in various areas, including trade, investment, clean energy, financial services, healthcare and improving the well-being of our citizens.
According to a report of the closed-door meeting, the prime minister highlighted the shared responsibility of leaders to work together in pursuit of global stability, economic cooperation and trade, as well as efforts to move away from fuels. fossil fuels for the benefit of renewable energies.
Climate change was a priority for the Prime Minister, and a Downing Street spokesperson said the Prime Minister wanted China's support in global efforts, particularly in light of President-elect Trump's expected return to climate change. green policies.
However, Sir Keir also stressed that his government's approach “would always be rooted in the UK's national interests, but that we would be a predictable and pragmatic partner” to China.
With China's military support for Russia's war in Ukraine having drawn criticism from the UK and other Western countries, the prime minister also said he wanted to “engage honestly and frankly” on the areas of disagreement, including over Hong Kong, human rights and Russia's war in Ukraine. .
Their first meeting follows an initial telephone conversation in August after Labour's election victory and Sir Keir has now proposed a full bilateral meeting in Beijing or London.
The two also agreed that Chancellor Rachel Reeves should visit Beijing next year to discuss economic and financial cooperation with her counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister He Lifeng.
Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said: “Britain's position on the world stage risks being weakened if the Prime Minister does not vigorously defend our national interest. »
She said constructive dialogue was important but that Sir Keir “should have been stronger in raising our concerns about human rights, the repressive nature of the national security laws imposed on Hong Kong and security , the safety and well-being of British nationals, such as Jimmy Lai, who should be released.
“Starmer must set out, as part of his so-called reset, the assurances he has received from President Xi on areas of UK concern.”
Ahead of the meeting in Brazil, the Prime Minister said it was important to engage with economies like China – and Foreign Minister David Lammy spoke to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, as well as Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in Beijing last month.
The last British Prime Minister to meet President Xi was Theresa May, who hailed a “golden age” for UK-China relations during her visit to the country in 2018.
But since then, tensions have emerged over issues such as China's treatment of Xinjiang's Uyghur minority and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.
Last year, then-Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said China was “the biggest state threat to our economic security”.
But like the current government, he has also said there is a need to engage with China on issues such as climate change and the global economy.
Dr Yu Jie, a China expert from international think tank Chatham House, said the G20 meeting was “critical” for the thaw in relations between the UK and China after six years of freezing – and suggested a trade deal could be in sight, despite significant diplomatic tensions.
“Judging from the information given by both parties, the tone of the conversation seems positive,” Dr. Yu said.
“But when they got down to the details, it appears they failed to reach agreement on the thorny issues.”
Dr Yu warned that the efforts of both sides could still be overshadowed by pressure from the United States.
“It's something quite difficult for the British government, if the United States wants to add additional pressure for the United Kingdom to align with American policy towards China,” she said, describing how she expects US policy towards China to be “hawkish” under Trump.
Reuters
Jimmy Lai – pro-democracy activist and British citizen – was arrested in 2020 and his release from a Hong Kong prison is a “priority”, according to the British government.
Speaking to reporters on his way to the Rio de Janeiro summit, Sir Keir also said “strengthening support for Ukraine” was one of his priorities.
Ahead of the meeting, Downing Street said the prime minister would urge other G20 countries to increase their support for Ukraine or face “unfathomable consequences” if Russia was allowed to claim victory.
The summit follows large-scale missile and drone attacks by Russia across Ukraine this weekend and will take place as the conflict approaches its 1,000th day.
And it comes amid reports that the United States has authorized the use of long-range missiles it is supplying to Ukraine to strike Russia.
These weapons have so far only been used by kyiv on targets occupied by Russia on its own territory.
The UK has also supplied Ukraine with its Storm Shadow missiles, and officials and defense ministers have argued for kyiv to be allowed to use them to strike targets in Russia. But they were unwilling to act alone and were waiting for the White House to change its mind.
Sir Keir said he would “not go into operational detail” regarding missiles in Ukraine.
Sir Keir speaks with other G20 leaders, representing 19 of the world's largest economies as well as the African Union and the European Union.
The summit is overshadowed by the absence of President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump has called on his allies to take a more aggressive approach toward China and could trigger a global trade war if he imposes a promised 60% tariff on Chinese goods entering the United States.
This summit will provide world leaders with a first opportunity to compare notes and prepare for Trump's upcoming return to the White House.