RIO DE JANEIRO: Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the importance of a "strong UK-China relationship" while raising concerns over several contentious issues as he met China's President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Brazil on Monday. In the first bilateral meeting between a British prime minister and the Chinese leader since February 2018, Starmer told Xi the UK would be "committed to the rule of law".
Ties between the UK and China have faltered in recent years.
Xi in turn told the British leader, who took power in July, that the two countries had "vast space for cooperation", according to China's state media. "China and Britain should uphold their strategic partnership and open up new prospects for China-UK relations," Xi said.
Starmer's nascent administration sees the opportunity for a reset of relations, as it explores all avenues to boost flatlining economic growth in Britain. "We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful, as we have agreed, avoid surprises where possible," Starmer told Xi. — AFP
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