UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marking the first in-person meeting between a UK prime minister and the Chinese leader since 2018. The meeting, which comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations, was focused on fostering a “strong UK-China relationship” for mutual benefit, with discussions ranging from business cooperation to global issues like climate change.
Speaking at the start of the meeting, Sir Keir emphasized the importance of maintaining a “consistent, durable, respectful” relationship with China. He underscored the UK’s commitment to the rule of law and its role as a predictable and sovereign actor on the global stage. “We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful, as we have agreed, avoid surprises where possible,” he stated.
In turn, President Xi highlighted the potential for cooperation between the two countries, especially in areas like trade, clean energy, and healthcare. Through a translator, Xi noted that China and the UK have “broad space for cooperation” and expressed a desire for increased collaboration across various sectors to improve the well-being of their peoples.
The discussion also touched on global stability, economic cooperation, and efforts to transition to renewable energy. Sir Keir stressed that both countries have an important role to play in the global clean energy transition and called for China’s support, particularly in light of President-elect Donald Trump’s expected rollback of green policies in the US.
A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that Sir Keir would seek China’s support for global initiatives, emphasizing the need for cooperative efforts to address climate change and promote economic growth. However, the Prime Minister also made it clear that the UK’s approach to China would always be guided by its national interests, and he emphasized the need for “honest and frank” discussions on areas of disagreement, such as Hong Kong, human rights, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The meeting follows an initial phone conversation between the two leaders in August, after Labour’s electoral victory. Sir Keir proposed further discussions in the future, with a possible bilateral meeting in either Beijing or London. Additionally, the two leaders agreed that UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves would visit Beijing next year to discuss economic and financial cooperation.
The meeting comes at a time when UK-China relations have been strained over issues such as China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang and the political situation in Hong Kong. While tensions have been high, Sir Keir has maintained that engagement with China on issues like climate change and the global economy remains essential.
In addition to his meeting with Xi, Sir Keir is engaging with other G20 leaders to discuss global security, climate change, and support for Ukraine, which remains a key focus of the summit amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian targets.
