Readouts of Xi-Starmer call
Beijing and London agree on the need for a stable China-UK relationship and dialogue.
The readout carried by Xinhua News Agency, originally in Chinese
Xi Jinping Holds Phone Call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
On the afternoon of August 23rd, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer upon request.
Xi Jinping congratulated Starmer on his appointment as the British Prime Minister. Xi pointed out that currently, the international situation is undergoing complex changes, and both China and the UK, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major global economies, should view bilateral relations with a long-term and strategic perspective. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a partnership-oriented approach, enhancing dialogue and cooperation, and fostering a stable and mutually beneficial relationship between China and the UK that benefits both countries and the world. China is committed to comprehensively advancing the building of a strong nation and national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization and adheres to a path of peaceful development. China hopes that the UK will view China objectively and rationally. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has made strategic plans for further deepening reform and advancing Chinese-style modernization. China will accelerate the development of new quality productive forces and promote new-type industrialization, which will provide more opportunities for countries around the world, including the UK. China is willing to engage in equal dialogue with the UK on the basis of mutual respect, enhance mutual understanding and trust, align development strategies, expand cooperation in finance, green economy, artificial intelligence, and other fields, deepen cultural exchanges, and make mutual benefit and win-win cooperation the main theme of China-UK relations.
Starmer congratulated the Chinese sports delegation on their outstanding achievements at the Paris Olympics and stated that developing closer UK-China cooperation is in the long-term interests of both sides. Strengthening cooperation in trade, finance, education, clean energy, and healthcare will help promote each other's development and jointly address global challenges such as climate change. The UK hopes to strengthen contacts and dialogue with China at all levels and in various fields, promote practical cooperation and institutional exchanges between the two countries to achieve positive results, and develop a long-term, stable, and strategically significant UK-China relationship in the spirit of mutual respect. The UK is willing to maintain communication with China on major international and regional issues and contribute to maintaining world security and stability. I would like to reiterate that the UK's long-standing adherence to the One-China policy has not changed.
Xi Jinping emphasized that China attaches great importance to the UK's desire to strengthen contacts and dialogue and is willing to maintain exchanges at all levels with the UK, promote the steady and long-term development of China-UK relations, and work together to promote world peace and development.
From Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
PM call with President Xi Jinping of China: 23 August 2024
The Prime Minister spoke to President Xi Jinping of China this morning.
The Prime Minister began by setting out his priorities for his government, including national security, secure borders and economic stability.
The leaders discussed areas of shared collaboration, and potential areas of cooperation between the UK and China, including on trade, the economy and education.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council, the leaders agreed on the importance of close working in areas such as climate change and global security.
The Prime Minister added that he hoped the leaders would be able to have open, frank and honest discussions to address and understand areas of disagreement when necessary, such as Hong Kong, Russia’s war in Ukraine and human rights.
The leaders also agreed on the need for a stable and consistent UK-China relationship, including dialogue between their respective foreign and domestic ministers.
They agreed to stay in touch.
