vSir Keir Starmer, the UK’s Prime Minister, has met with President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, marking the first in-person meeting between a UK leader and the Chinese president since 2018. The meeting comes at a time of strained UK-China relations, though both sides have emphasized the need for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as trade, climate change, and economic growth.
Focus on Trade and Climate Change
During their conversation, Sir Keir underscored the importance of a “strong UK-China relationship” for both nations, stressing that the UK wants relations to be consistent, predictable, and rooted in the rule of law. Xi responded positively, highlighting broad areas for collaboration, including trade, investment, clean energy, and financial services. Both leaders agreed that their countries could play a key role in global stability and economic cooperation while working towards reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Sir Keir also raised the importance of global efforts to combat climate change, signaling a desire for China’s support in tackling environmental issues, especially in light of potential policy shifts in the United States under President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has indicated he may roll back green policies, putting more pressure on international efforts to reduce emissions.
The Hong Kong Issue and Human Rights Concerns
A major point of discussion was human rights, particularly regarding the situation in Hong Kong. Sir Keir raised the case of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist jailed in Hong Kong, whose health has reportedly deteriorated. The Labour leader expressed concern over Lai’s imprisonment and called for his release. However, critics, including Conservative politicians, have argued that Sir Keir did not press hard enough on human rights issues during the meeting.
Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary for the Conservatives, criticized Sir Keir for not being more forceful in addressing issues such as China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, the repressive national security laws imposed on Hong Kong, and the treatment of British nationals like Lai. Patel stated that while dialogue was necessary, Starmer should have secured stronger commitments on these issues.
Diplomatic Tensions and Potential Trade Deals
The meeting in Brazil follows significant diplomatic tensions between the UK and China over the last few years, particularly related to Hong Kong, human rights abuses, and China’s growing global influence. Former Conservative PM Rishi Sunak had previously described China as “the biggest state-based threat to our economic security.”
Despite these tensions, Dr. Yu Jie, a China expert from the Chatham House think tank, suggested that the G20 summit could be an opportunity to thaw UK-China relations, with potential for trade deals despite unresolved differences. Dr. Yu also noted that any UK efforts could be overshadowed by pressure from the US, which is likely to continue pursuing a hawkish policy on China, especially under Trump’s administration.
Ongoing Support for Ukraine
In addition to the meeting with President Xi, Sir Keir’s presence at the G20 summit was marked by his strong advocacy for Ukraine. He emphasized the need for the international community to increase support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression. The UK has provided weapons such as Storm Shadow missiles, and Sir Keir has urged the US to allow Ukraine to strike Russian targets with long-range missiles.
While Sir Keir avoided commenting on the operational details of military support, he stated that the UK would continue to work with its allies to ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs to counter Russian advances. His stance comes amid escalating attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities, with the conflict nearing its 1,000th day.
Looking Ahead
Following their meeting, Sir Keir has proposed a bilateral summit with President Xi, either in Beijing or London, to continue discussions on economic and diplomatic relations. Additionally, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to visit Beijing next year to discuss financial and economic cooperation with Chinese officials.
This meeting represents a diplomatic balancing act for Sir Keir, who seeks to strengthen economic ties with China while addressing critical issues like human rights, global security, and climate change. The results of this summit and any potential future agreements will be closely scrutinized, especially as tensions rise between China and the West under the shadow of Trump’s return to the White House.