Xi tells Starmer UK and China should ‘rise above differences’ in Beijing talks

China’s leader Xi Jinping told UK prime minister Keir Starmer in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing that the UK-China relationship had gone through “twists and turns” and that the two countries should “rise above differences” if they were to “stand the test of history”. The meeting came during the first visit to China by a British prime minister in eight years.

In opening remarks Xi said the visit had “drawn a lot of attention”, that “good things take time” and that a more “consistent” approach was in both countries’ interests. He described the world as “turbulent and fluid”, referenced events including tensions with Iran, Donald Trump’s ambitions for Greenland and Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, and said greater UK-China dialogue was “imperative”.

Xi also appeared to reprimand Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, who has criticised Starmer for travelling to China. Starmer said he wanted to bring “stability and clarity” to bilateral ties after years of “inconsistency” under the Tories, which he said had seen relations shift from “golden age to ice age”.

After the meeting he called the talks productive and said the relationship was in a “good, strong place”.

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