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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has met Chinese President Xi Jinping, promising to build relations between the two countries that are “consistent, durable, respectful”.
Starmer met Xi on Monday at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro and proposed following it up with further high-level meetings, including a bilateral with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in either Beijing or London.
“We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful and — as we have agreed — to avoid surprises where possible,” Starmer said.
Downing Street said Starmer raised human rights, Chinese sanctions against British parliamentarians and the treatment of Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon.
Starmer also confirmed plans for Rachel Reeves, UK chancellor, to hold talks with China about deepening economic and financial ties between the two countries. She is expected to visit Beijing early next year.
“A strong UK-China relationship is important for both of our countries and for the broader international community,” Starmer said. “The UK will be a predictable, consistent, sovereign actor committed to the rule of law.”
With the prospect of US president-elect Donald Trump launching global tariffs, notably against China, Starmer is anxious to maintain open relations with Beijing, an important trading partner, as part of his efforts to boost UK economic growth.
After the meeting with Starmer, Xi said China and the UK had “broad space for co-operation” including on trade, clean energy, financial services and healthcare.
Xi said: “We will break new ground in the China-UK relationship amid a changing world, and better underscore our relationship’s relevance for the times and its significance for the world.”
Starmer said he was keen for Reeves to meet China’s vice-premier He Lifeng early next year “to explore more investment projects and a more level playing field to help our businesses”.
He also said that David Lammy, foreign secretary, had recently discussed in Beijing British concerns over “human rights and parliamentary sanctions, Taiwan, the South China Sea and our shared interest in Hong Kong”.
Starmer added: “We are concerned by reports of Jimmy Lai’s deterioration.”
The new Labour government is carrying out a review of UK-China relations and is expected to continue a constructive engagement with Beijing, coupled with tight restrictions on trade where national security issues are at stake.
Downing Street said Starmer wanted to engage with China in areas such as international stability, climate and growth. It was the first meeting between a British premier and Xi since Theresa May met the Chinese president in Beijing in 2016.
Relations between China and Britain cooled considerably following May’s meeting with Xi and are far removed from the “golden era” proclaimed by Lord David Cameron when he was Conservative prime minister.
Rishi Sunak, former Tory prime minister, adopted a much tougher tone towards Beijing after coming under pressure from China hawks on his own backbenches.
Starmer will use the Rio summit to hold a series of bilateral meetings — part of an extensive global tour since becoming prime minister in July. His trip marks the first visit by a British premier to Brazil in 12 years.