Advocacy Update: UK PM Starmer meets Chinese President Xi at the G20

The British Chamber of Commerce in China welcomes the first in-person dialogue between a British PM and Chinese President in over six years.

Commiting to a “consistent, durable, respectful” relationship between the two countries, Sir Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. While noting some areas of challenge between the two nations, Sir Keir Starmer emphasised the importance of coopeartion between the UK and China on issues such as business cooperation, climate change, and boosting economic growth in both countries. The UK would be a “predictable and pragmatic” partner for China, he noted.

In his remarks, Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed these sentiments, noting that “China and the UK have broad space for co-operation across various domains, including trade, investment, clean energy, financial services, healthcare and improving our peoples’ well-being.”

The Prime Minister and President agreed to a visit by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves next year to meet with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, to resume economic and financial dialogues between the two nations.

The dialogue between the two countries’ leaders comes just a few weeks after Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to China in October, where he met with a number of Chamber members in a meeting co-chaired by Rachel Tsang, Managing Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in China.

British businesses operating in market welcome the renewed focus on high-level, government-to-government engagement between the UK and China. The commitment to restoring confidence, with the promise of full bilateral ties and a consistent, pragmatic approach, is particularly reassuring to the business community. We understand that discussions are underway to restart the Economic and Financial Dialogue, along with JETCO, which our members view as a crucial step.

Encouraging signs of progress in this area are vital not only for businesses already here but also for attracting new UK investments, particularly in sectors where UK-China collaboration is key, such as clean energy, finance, science and technology. As always, the British Chamber of Commerce in China remains committed to acting as a vital conduit between the governments and businesses, supporting both the development of robust economic ties and the continued success of British businesses in China.

Rachel Tsang, Managing Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in China