context: Labour leader Kier Starmer officially became prime minister of the UK on 5 July, after his party won a landslide victory in the national election. He said his government would carry out an 'audit' of UK–PRC relations as 'one of the first things that we will do'. This call is the first between Xi Jinping 习近平 and a British prime minister since March 2022.
Xi Jinping 习近平 held phone talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 23 August.
Xi pointed out that the PRC and the UK, permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world should
- view bilateral relations from a long-term and strategic perspective
- maintain a partnership-oriented approach
- enhance dialogue and cooperation
- foster a stable and mutually beneficial relationship that benefits both countries and the world
Xi said that the PRC is committed to advancing the building of a strong nation and national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernisation, and adhering to the path of peaceful development, expressing his hope that the UK can view the PRC objectively and rationally.
He noted that the Third Plenum made strategic plans for further deepening reform and advancing Chinese-style modernisation, adding that the PRC will accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, and push forward a new type of industrialisation, which will provide new opportunities for countries around the world including the UK.
The PRC is willing to engage in equal dialogue with the UK based on mutual respect, understanding and trust, strengthen synergy of development strategies, expand cooperation in finance, green economy and AI as well as deepening people-to-people exchanges.
Xi added that the PRC attaches great importance to the UK's desire to strengthen contacts and dialogue, and is willing to maintain exchanges at all levels to promote the steady and long-term development of PRC–UK relations and work together to promote world peace and development.