Abuja: China and the United Kingdom on Friday agreed to forge a long-term, comprehensive strategic partnership, announced during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s landmark meeting with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Both countries also agreed to develop a long-term, consistent, comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK.
This is contained in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
This agreement comes against the backdrop of the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer‘s visit to President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The ministry quoted President Xi as saying that China and the UK, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies, need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to safeguard world peace and stability, and to deliver growth and prosperity for people in both countries.
According to him, both countries need to view history from a broader perspective, rise above differences, respect each other, and turn the vast potential of China-UK cooperation into real progress.
He further underlined mutual trust as the foundation for steady and sustainable state-to-state relations.
Xi said this would create new opportunities for both countries and benefit the world.
He reiterated China’s commitment to peaceful development and respect for sovereignty.
“No matter how strong and developed China becomes, it will never be a threat to other countries.
Xi added that Chinese culture values peace, and China-UK trade is mutually beneficial.
The Chinese President reiterated that unilateralism, protectionism, and power politics are running rampant, adding that the international order is under great strain.
According to him, international law can be truly effective only when all countries abide by it, saying that if major countries set an example, the world will revert to the law of the jungle.
He urged both nations to champion true multilateralism and free trade.
He called for a fairer global system and inclusive, equitable growth.
For his part, Starmer conveyed King Charles III’s greetings to President Xi, saying he was delighted to be the first British Prime Minister to visit China in eight years.
According to him, the visit, with a delegation of at least 60 representatives from British business and cultural organisations, demonstrated the breadth of UK-China cooperation and the UK’s commitment to deepening and expanding ties with China.
Starmer emphasised the need for a consistent partnership built on mutual respect, especially in uncertain times.
“In Taiwan, the UK’s position is long-standing, well-known, and unchanged.
He expressed interest in deeper UK-China cooperation across multiple sectors to promote shared prosperity.
He stressed the importance of increased people-to-people exchanges for deeper mutual understanding.
Starmer pledged UK cooperation in legislative and sectoral exchanges with China.
He affirmed Hong Kong’s stability benefits both countries and welcomed its unique role.
He commended China’s vital role in international affairs, adding that the UK would like to strengthen cooperation with China on climate change and other global challenges, and to jointly uphold world peace and stability.
The meeting was to expand win-win cooperation in education, health, and finance, and to pursue joint research and commercial applications in artificial intelligence, life sciences, new energy, and low-carbon technologies for shared prosperity.
The highlight of the meeting attended by the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, was the inauguration of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, with the UK expected to foster a fair, just, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies.
More British people from government, parliament, and subnational entities are expected to visit China and develop a comprehensive, objective, and accurate understanding of China, while China considers granting visa-free access to U.K. travellers.
