Sir Keir met President Xi on the fringes of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and, speaking at the start of the meeting, said: “We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful, as we have agreed, avoid surprises where possible.”
He added: “The UK will be a predictable, consistent, sovereign actor committed to the rule of law.”
Speaking through a translator, Xi told Sir Keir that the two countries should commit to mutual respect and openness, saying: “China and the UK have broad space for co-operation across various domains, including trade, investment, clean energy, financial services, healthcare and improving our peoples’ well-being.”
A read-out of the closed door meeting said the PM set out the leaders’ shared responsibility to work together in pursuit of global stability, economic co-operation and trade, and efforts to move away from fossil fuels to renewables.
Climate change was a focus for the PM, and a Downing Street spokesperson said the PM wants China’s support on global efforts, particularly in light of President-elect Trump’s expected roll back of green policies.
However, Sir Keir also stressed his government’s approach would “always be rooted in the national interests of the UK, but that we would be a predictable and pragmatic partner” to China.
With China’s military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine having prompted criticism from the UK and other Western countries, the PM also said he wanted to “engage honestly and frankly” on areas of disagreement, including on Hong Kong, human rights and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Their first meeting follows an initial phone conversation in August after Labour’s election victory and Sir Keir has now proposed a full bilateral meeting in Beijing or London.
The pair also agreed Chancellor Rachel Reeves should visit Beijing next year to discuss economic and financial cooperation with her counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng.