China and the UK on Friday agreed to develop a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Both countries also agreed to develop a long-term, consistent, comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK.

This was noted in a statement by China’s foreign affairs ministry.

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.

Mr Xi said 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 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.

Mr Xi said, “This will open up new prospects for China-UK relations and cooperation, for the good of both peoples and the whole world. 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-UK economic and trade ties are mutually beneficial in nature.”

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.

“As supporters of multilateralism and free trade, China and the UK should advocate and practice true multilateralism. Make the global governance system more just, equitable, build an equal and orderly multipolar world, and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation,” he said.

Mr Starmer conveyed King Charles III’s greetings to Mr 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.

“As major economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, it is vital for the UK 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 UK’s position is long-standing, well-known, and unchanged. The UK would like to maintain high-level engagement with China, enhance dialogue and exchange, and strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, finance, and environment, to support each other’s growth and prosperity.

“The more closely the two peoples interact, the better they will understand each other. The UK will work with China to promote exchanges between its legislature and other sectors. Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability serve the common interests of both countries, and the UK welcomes Hong Kong as a unique and important bridge between the two countries,” Mr Starmer said.

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 China’s foreign minister, 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.

(NAN)