Xi seeks ‘common wins’ in first talk with UK’s Starmer

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday he hoped to achieve “common wins” with the United Kingdom in his first conversation with new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

China was Britain´s fifth-largest trading partner as of 2023, according to official UK statistics, but diplomatic relations have been icy in recent years as the countries sparred over Beijing´s tightening control over former British colony Hong Kong.

During a phone call between the two leaders on Friday afternoon, Xi congratulated Starmer on assuming the prime minister´s role last month, CCTV said.

“China is willing to conduct equal dialogue with the UK side on the basis of mutual respect... (and) expand cooperation in the fields of finance, green economy, artificial intelligence, etc.,” Xi was quoted as saying.

The Chinese president added that he aimed to “make mutual benefits and common wins the fundamental tone of China-UK relations”, CCTV said.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on July 7 was the first senior leader from the country to publicly congratulate Starmer on becoming prime minister two days before.China’s embassy in London said Starmer told Xi there had been no change in Britain’s policy towards Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory - a stance strongly objected to by the island’s government.