British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need for open communication and deeper cooperation between the United Kingdom and China during a phone

conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Starmer highlighted the importance of addressing disagreements openly while simultaneously pursuing stronger economic ties and joint efforts on global challenges.

During the call, Xi expressed hope that the UK would adopt an objective and rational approach towards China, according to China's official news agency, Xinhua.

Starmer's office reported that the discussion covered various areas of collaboration, including trade, the economy, and education. Both leaders acknowledged their roles as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and agreed to work closely on issues such as global security and climate change.

The British Prime Minister stressed the importance of open, honest dialogue to address and understand differences, particularly on sensitive topics like Hong Kong, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and human rights.

Chinese state media noted that the call was initiated by the UK and that the two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in finance, the green economy, and artificial intelligence. Xinhua also reported that Xi congratulated Starmer on his Labour Party's election victory in July.

The Starmer administration has announced plans to review the UK's relationship with China, aiming to better understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by Beijing.

In recent years, relations between the UK and China have been strained due to issues related to Hong Kong, allegations of human rights abuses, and concerns over Chinese companies' involvement in critical infrastructure projects in the UK.

In 2022, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared the end of what had been termed a "golden era" of UK-China relations, a policy championed by one of his predecessors, David Cameron.

Xinhua quoted Xi as expressing China's willingness to engage in "dialogue on an equal footing, on the basis of mutual respect," with the aim of enhancing understanding and mutual trust.

According to China's embassy in London, Starmer reassured Xi that there had been no change in Britain's policy towards Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory—a claim strongly opposed by the Taiwanese government.

Xi emphasized that China values the UK's desire for increased engagement and dialogue and will continue to maintain exchanges at all levels, the embassy added.

While the UK, like most Western countries, does not officially recognize Taiwan as a state, it maintains an office in Taipei to promote trade, educational ties, and provide assistance to travelers. Photo: Sergeant Paul Shaw LBIPP/MOD, Wikimedia commons.