3 hours ago
3
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has said the UK’s relationship with his country had gone through “twists and turns” over the years but that a more “consistent” approach was in both their interests.
Ahead of talks with Keir Starmer during the first visit to China by a British prime minister in eight years, Xi said the two men would “stand the test of history” if they could “rise above differences”.
In the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi also appeared to reprimand Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, who has criticised Starmer for travelling to China this week.
There has been cross-party concern about China’s spying activities in the UK – with the travelling No 10 delegation operating on burner phones – and also Beijing’s human rights abuses.
However, the UK prime minister began the trip by saying he wanted to bring “stability and clarity” to the bilateral relations after years of “inconsistency” under the Tories when it went from “golden age to ice age”.
In opening remarks before their talks, Xi told Starmer: “Your visit this time has drawn a lot of attention. Sometimes good things take time.
“As long as it is the right thing that serves the fundamental interests of the country and the people, then as leaders we should not shy away from difficulties and we should press ahead.
“As long as we take a broad perspective, rise above differences and respect each other, then we will prove ourselves able to stand the test of history,” he added.
The president quoted a Chinese proverb: “Range far your eye over long distances.”
But Xi did acknowledge that the UK-China relationship had seen “twists and turns” over the years that he said served the interests of neither country.
Against a backdrop of Donald Trump’s ambitions for Greenland, tensions with Iran and Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, Xi suggested that in such a turbulent world it was essential for the two countries to work together for “world peace”.
On the eve of the visit, Starmer had spoken to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the prime minister is expected to seek Xi’s support in bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Describing the state of the world as “turbulent and fluid”, Xi said more dialogue between the UK and China was “imperative”, whether it was “for the sake of world peace and stability or for our two countries’ economies and peoples”.
In response, Starmer told Xi he wanted a “more sophisticated” relationship between the two countries. “China is a vital player on the global stage and it is vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship,” he said.
Stressing the economic benefits of an improved relationship with China, he said: “It is with the British people in mind that I am here today. I made the promise 18 months ago when we were elected into government that I would make Britain face outwards again.
“Because as we all know, events abroad affect everything that happens back in our home countries, to prices on the supermarket shelves to how secure we feel.”
Xi also praised former Labour governments, under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, for working constructively on bilateral relations. He said: “In the past, Labour governments made important contributions to the growth of China-UK relations.
“China stands ready to develop with the UK a long-term and consistent strategic partnership. It will benefit our two peoples.”
The two leaders spoke privately for an hour and 20 minutes, almost double the allotted time.
Mentioning the upcoming lunar new year, Xi said Starmer’s visit was “a sign of auspiciousness”.
Earlier, Starmer met the chair of China’s National People’s Congress as he kicked off his day of talks. Zhao Leji said it was “significant” to develop the UK-China relationship “well” amid the “changing and turbulent international landscape”.
He also praised Starmer’s efforts to reach a rapprochement with China, saying relations were now on “the correct track to improvement and development” and “positive progress has been made”.
The UK leader said: “This is a historic visit, the first by a British prime minister in eight years.”
He added: “We have made this trip because I believe it is strongly in our common interest to find positive ways to work together, and that has been our longstanding position.”
Starmer concluded: “I look forward to a very productive few days discussing issues of global stability and security, growth and shared challenges like climate change.”
