Sir Keir Starmer has informed China’s President Xi Jinping he hopes they will have “open, frank and sincere” talks about areas of disagreement, within the first official name between the 2.
The decision was additionally the primary between Mr Xi and a British prime minister since he spoke to Boris Johnson in March 2022.
The 2 leaders mentioned potential areas of co-operation, together with on commerce, the financial system and schooling, a No 10 spokesperson mentioned.
“As everlasting members of the UN Safety Council, the leaders agreed on the significance of shut working in areas, akin to local weather change and world safety,” they added.
“The leaders additionally agreed on the necessity for a steady and constant UK-China relationship, together with dialogue between their respective overseas and home ministers.”
China’s embassy within the UK mentioned President Xi congratulated Sir Keir on taking workplace, and mentioned the 2 international locations wanted to “view their relations from a long-term and strategic perspective”.
In a press release, it added: “China is dedicated to constructing an awesome nation and reaching nationwide rejuvenation on all fronts by means of a Chinese language path to modernisation, and follows a path of peaceable growth.
“It’s hoped that the UK will view China in an goal and rational method.”
Overseas Secretary David Lammy met Chinese language counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of an Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations gathering in Laos final month.
He urged China to cease its corporations supporting Russia’s warfare effort, and harassed the UK’s “ironclad” dedication to backing Ukraine.
Sir Keir’s dialog with Mr Xi comes amid a interval of strained relations between London and Beijing over espionage allegations and China’s tightening management over former UK colony Hong Kong.
Nevertheless, the 2 international locations stay main buying and selling companions in addition to everlasting members of the UN Safety Council.
China was Britain’s fifth largest buying and selling companion in 2023, based on UK statistics, however diplomatic relations had been icy underneath former PM Rishi Sunak.
Quickly after taking workplace in October 2022, Mr Sunak declared an finish to the so-called “golden period” of UK-China relations trumpeted by former Prime Minister David Cameron.
He additionally described China as a “systemic problem” to UK values.
In 2021, China imposed sanctions on 9 UK residents, together with 5 Conservative MPs.
In 2023, the UK Parliament banned TikTok, the Chinese language-owned social media app, from being accessed on its wi-fi over safety considerations. TikTok has denied claims it passes on customers’ information to the Chinese language authorities.
In April, UK police charged two males underneath the Official Secrets and techniques Act with spying for China.
