British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) yesterday hailed a reset of ties, pledging to build an economic partnership with deals including a major investment by AstraZeneca that they said would benefit both countries.
On the key day of his four-day visit to China, the first by a British prime minister in eight years, Starmer spent about three hours with Xi at a formal summit and a lunch, as their nations try to improve ties after several years of acrimony. Relations have deteriorated over allegations of Chinese spying in the UK, China’s support for Russia in Moscow’s war on Ukraine and the crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong.
Starmer is the latest Western leader to head to China, as nations hedge against the unpredictability of US President Donald Trump, and yesterday’s talks also included security issues, the war in Ukraine and human rights.
Photo: AFP
The British prime minister’s visit, which ends tomorrow, has yielded a raft of business announcements and government agreements, including a deal allowing British tourists and business visitors visa-free stays in China for up to 30 days.
He also announced a plan by AstraZeneca to pioneer new medicines by investing US$15 billion in its Chinese operations as proof of the benefits that could flow to both countries.
However, he also said the closer ties would enable the UK to engage in “frank dialogue” when there was disagreement.
Starmer, whose center-left Labour government has struggled to deliver the economic growth it promised, has made improving relations with the world’s second-largest economy a priority, despite misgivings about espionage and human rights.
“China is a vital player on the global stage, and it’s vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship where we can identify opportunities to collaborate, but of course, also allow a meaningful dialogue on areas where we disagree,” Starmer told Xi at the start of their meeting.
Xi said that “China-UK relations experienced twists and turns in previous years, which was not in the interests of either country.”
“In the current turbulent and ever-changing international situation ... China and the UK need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to maintain world peace and stability,” he said.
State-run China Central Television said Xi had stressed, without mentioning the US directly, that “major powers” must adhere to international law or the world would regress into a “jungle.”
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