Xi Jinping, UK PM Starmer Hold Phone Call, Vow to Expand Mutually Beneficial Cooperation
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on September 8, during which both leaders emphasized that the common interests of their comprehensive strategic partners outweigh their differences. Xi called for expanding the "cake" of mutually beneficial cooperation, while Starmer expressed Britain's commitment to restoring bilateral relations to their historical peak. The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in multilateral frameworks and address global challenges together.
Key Points
- Xi told Starmer that although China and the UK have different social systems and national conditions, their common interests outweigh differences, and both should respect each other, transcend differences, and seek common ground while reserving differences
- China will further open up education, healthcare, and finance sectors to foreign investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, areas Xi identified as having great cooperation potential
- Both leaders agreed that China and the UK, as UN Security Council permanent members and major world economies, should strengthen coordination within the UN, G20, and WTO frameworks
- Starmer mentioned his years of friendly exchanges with China as Manchester's mayor and affirmed Britain's commitment to a stable long-term strategic partnership
- Starmer stated that Britain's position on Taiwan remains unchanged and that both nations should promote dialogue to resolve international hotspot issues and address climate change
Why It Matters
The phone call signals a potential reset in China-UK relations after a period of tensions, with both sides seeking to restore cooperation to historic highs. For Hong Kong, improved China-UK ties could have implications for trade relations and the city's role as a bridge between Beijing and Western capitals .
The phone call signals a potential reset in China-UK relations after a period of tensions, with both sides seeking to restore cooperation to historic highs. For Hong Kong, improved China-UK ties could have implications for trade relations and the city's role as a bridge between Beijing and Western capitals .