British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil on Monday, marking the first such meeting between a British prime minister and Xi in six years.
A statement from 10 Downing Street confirmed that during the meeting, Starmer will stress the importance of maintaining pragmatic partnerships with countries that have differing values, particularly in areas such as climate change, economic development, and global security.
“As permanent members of the UN Security Council with major economies, the Prime Minister will emphasize the need for practical engagement with China where there are clear opportunities for mutual cooperation, including on international stability, climate, and economic growth,” the statement said.
It also noted that Starmer would be direct in addressing areas of disagreement, emphasizing the importance of competition and challenge where necessary.
Starmer remarked, “It is in the UK’s best interests to engage on the global stage – whether that’s building strong partnerships with our closest allies or being candid with those whose values differ from ours.”
He further stressed that close collaboration with the world’s leading economies is crucial for attracting investment to the UK and creating jobs to drive growth.
Starmer is also expected to urge faster and increased support for Ukraine during the summit.
