United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Chinese President Xi Jinping for “open, frank and honest discussions” to navigate areas of disagreement between the two nations.
This dialogue, the first between a British leader and Xi since March 2022, came at a time of heightened tensions over espionage allegations and China’s tightening control over Hong Kong.
According to a Downing Street readout, Starmer expressed hope that he and Xi “would be able to have open, frank and honest discussions to address and understand areas of disagreement when necessary.” The readout highlighted key concerns such as “Hong Kong, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and human rights.”
Despite the strained diplomatic relations, the two countries remain significant trading partners, with China ranking as the UK’s fifth-largest trading partner as of 2023. However, diplomatic ties have been frosty under Starmer’s predecessor, Rishi Sunak, who in October 2022 declared an end to the “golden era” of UK-China relations heralded by former Prime Minister David Cameron. Sunak had characterized China as a “systemic challenge” to UK values, further complicating bilateral relations.
The conversation between Starmer and Xi came against the backdrop of espionage allegations that have further strained ties.
In June, Beijing accused the UK’s MI6 of recruiting Chinese state employees to spy for Britain, following charges in April under the UK’s Official Secrets Act against two men accused of spying for China.
In contrast, Xi appeared to signal a desire to reset relations. According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, Xi emphasized that China aimed to “make mutual benefits and common wins the fundamental tone of China-UK relations.” He also expressed willingness to engage in “equal dialogue” with the UK based on “mutual respect” and to expand cooperation in areas such as finance, the green economy, and artificial intelligence.
Xi also took the opportunity to congratulate Starmer on his victory in the general election held on July 4, which saw his Labour party secure a decisive win over the Conservatives. Chinese Premier Li Qiang had been the first senior Chinese leader to publicly congratulate Starmer shortly after he assumed office.
The phone call, reportedly initiated at Starmer’s invitation, is the first high-level communication between Chinese and British leaders since Xi’s last conversation with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in March 2022. CCTV reported that Xi conveyed China’s “great importance” to the UK’s desire for strengthened contact and dialogue, stressing the importance of maintaining exchanges at all levels to promote the steady and long-term development of China-UK relations.
Downing Street’s readout noted that the leaders discussed “potential areas of cooperation,” including trade, the economy, and education, and agreed on the importance of close collaboration on climate change and global security. The statement also emphasized the need for a “stable and consistent UK-China relationship,” including ongoing dialogue between their respective foreign and domestic ministers.
Further signaling a potential thaw in relations, The Guardian reported that Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy is planning a visit to China in September.
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