On the morning of January 29, President Xi Jinping met with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Both sides agreed to develop a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the U.K.

President Xi Jinping noted that in a changing and chaotic world, China and the U.K., as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and major economies, need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, both in safeguarding world peace and stability and in delivering growth and prosperity for people in both countries. They need to see history from a broader perspective, rise above differences, respect each other, and turn the vast potential of China-U.K. cooperation into real progress. This will open up new prospects for China-U.K. relations and cooperation, for the good of both peoples and the whole world.

President Xi Jinping underlined mutual trust as the foundation for steady and sustainable state-to-state relations. China is always committed to peaceful development, has never started a war, and has never taken an inch of foreign land. No matter how strong and developed China becomes, it will never be a threat to other countries. Traditional Chinese culture values peace and pursues harmony without uniformity. China-U.K. economic and trade ties are mutually beneficial in nature. As China kicks off its 15th Five-Year Plan, the two sides may expand win-win cooperation in the services sector including education, health, and finance, and pursue joint research and commercial application in artificial intelligence, life sciences, new energy, and low-carbon technologies for shared development and prosperity. The U.K. is expected to foster a fair, just, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies. China and the U.K., as countries with rich cultural heritage, have both made significant contributions to the development and progress of humanity. The two sides should enhance people-to-people exchanges and further facilitate two-way travel. More British people from the government, parliament, and subnational entities are welcome to visit China and develop a comprehensive, objective, and correct understanding of China. China will give positive consideration to visa-free access for U.K. travelers.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that unilateralism, protectionism, and power politics are running rampant. The international order is under great strain. International law can be truly effective only when all countries abide by it. Major countries in particular should set an example, otherwise the world will revert to the law of the jungle. As supporters of multilateralism and free trade, China and the U.K. should advocate and practice true multilateralism, make the global governance system more just and equitable, and build an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Prime Minister Starmer conveyed King Charles III’s greetings to President Xi. Prime Minister Starmer said he was delighted to be the first British Prime Minister to visit China in 8 years. This visit, with a delegation of around 60 important representatives from British business and cultural organizations, demonstrates the breadth of U.K.-China cooperation and the U.K.’s commitment to deepening and expanding ties with China. As major economies and permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, it is vital for the U.K. and China to build a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership with mutual respect and trust, especially in a volatile and fragile world. On Taiwan, the U.K.’s position is long-standing, well-known, and unchanged. The U.K. would like to maintain high-level engagement with China, enhance dialogue and exchange, and strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, finance, environment, etc. to support each other’s growth and prosperity. The more closely the two peoples interact, the better they will understand each other. The U.K. will work with China to promote exchanges between their legislatures and other sectors. Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability serve the common interests of both countries, and the U.K. welcomes Hong Kong as a unique and important bridge between the two countries. China plays a vital role in international affairs, and the U.K. would like to strengthen cooperation with China on climate change and other global challenges and jointly uphold world peace and stability.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.