Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Brazil, with the UK government emphasizing its goal for “stable and pragmatic engagement” with China.
This will be the first in-person meeting between a UK prime minister and the Chinese president since 2018.
Sir Keir is expected to highlight the importance of engaging with China on “areas of mutual cooperation,” including international stability, climate change, and economic growth.
However, Downing Street has stated that the prime minister will also take a firm stance on addressing areas of disagreement and ensure that all engagements are aligned with the UK’s national interests.
On his way to the summit in Rio de Janeiro, Sir Keir told reporters that “shoring up support for Ukraine” is his top priority.
Downing Street has indicated that the prime minister will call on other G20 nations to increase their support for Ukraine, warning of “unfathomable consequences” should Russia emerge victorious.
The summit follows significant missile and drone attacks by Russia across Ukraine over the weekend and marks nearly 1,000 days of conflict.
Additionally, reports have surfaced that the US has authorized the use of long-range missiles supplied to Ukraine for strikes on Russian targets.
The UK has also provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, and UK defense officials and ministers have advocated for allowing Kyiv to use them to target Russian territory.
However, they have awaited a change in the US position before proceeding.
Downing Street has not yet made a direct comment on reports regarding the US decision.
It has been confirmed that Sir Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet on Monday.
While the two leaders spoke by phone in August following Labour’s election victory, this will mark their first in-person meeting.
China’s military support for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine has drawn criticism from the UK and other Western nations.
The prime minister said: “It is in the UK’s best interests to engage on the global stage – whether that’s building strong and fruitful partnerships with our closest allies or being frank with those whose values differ from our own.
“Close cooperation with the world’s leading economies is vital to secure investment into the UK, and create the jobs needed to catalyse growth.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, as well as Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, in Beijing last month.
The last British prime minister to meet President Xi was Theresa May, who hailed a “golden era” for UK-China relations during her 2018 visit to the country.
Tensions have remained high between China and the UK, particularly over issues such as China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang and its actions against pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.
In 2023, former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak labeled China “the biggest state-based threat to our economic security,” but like the current government, emphasized the need for engagement with China on critical global matters like climate change and the global economy.
At the G20 summit, Sir Keir Starmer will also hold discussions with other leaders from the world’s largest economies, including the African Union and the European Union.
The summit is overshadowed by the absence of President-elect Donald Trump, who has advocated for a more aggressive stance towards China.
Trump’s potential move to impose a 60% tariff on Chinese goods could spark a global trade war.
This summit will offer world leaders a chance to strategize ahead of Trump’s anticipated return to the White House.
Downing Street confirmed that the prime minister’s priorities at the summit will include fostering partnerships to drive economic growth and security, advancing the climate transition, promoting clean energy, and supporting the economic development of developing countries.