UK Prime Minister Seeks Closer Ties with China
During a meeting on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer conveyed to Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, that the UK aims to develop a “sophisticated relationship” with China.
Starmer arrived in Beijing on a chartered British Airways flight, reportedly to minimize potential surveillance by Chinese spies on official government aircraft. His visit is set to span three days.
China officially announced Starmer’s arrival mere hours before he landed on Tuesday.
Meeting with Xi on Thursday, as reported by the South China Morning Post, Xi expressed a desire for a “new chapter” in relations between the UK and China. He suggested that both nations should enhance dialogue amid a “complex and unstable world.”
Starmer remarked, “We want a sophisticated relationship with China to boost the UK economy.” During an 80-minute discussion with Xi, he mentioned they talked about various topics, including “football and Shakespeare” alongside more formal business discussions before sharing a lunch together.
Xi acknowledged that the China-UK relationship has experienced “ups and downs,” which haven’t served either nation well, and he expressed readiness to establish a long-term partnership he believes could “deliver results that will stand the test of history.”
Quoting a Chinese proverb, Xi also stated, “See far for long distances,” echoing sentiments Starmer shared during his opening remarks.
According to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi further urged the UK and China to “jointly advocate and practice true multilateralism.” He emphasized that “international law can only be truly effective if all countries abide by it,” warning that if major nations don’t lead, the world could fall into chaos.
In a discussion with Starmer, Xi asserted that China would “never pose a threat to other countries, no matter how much it grows and develops,” insisting that China has “never started a war or occupied an inch of foreign land.”
In a post-meeting interview with Sky News, Starmer described the session, which included a delegation of about 50 individuals, as “very productive,” noting it significantly strengthened UK-China relations.
He emphasized the importance of providing business opportunities that could ultimately benefit people in the UK. “We discussed how to open access to business prospects,” Starmer indicated, expressing his intent to focus on the national interest despite some unease within the UK regarding relations with China.
Highlighting the pressing issue of the cost of living, Starmer pressed on the need for business openings that translate to better job prospects and lower domestic prices, noting that progress had indeed been made in these areas.
