Xi calls on China, Britain to adopt rational, objective perspective on each other's development

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nov. 18, 2024. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

RIO DE JANEIRO -- China and Britain should adopt a rational and objective perspective on each other's development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the 19th G20 Leaders' Summit.

The two countries should enhance strategic communication and deepen political mutual trust to ensure a steady, substantial, and enduring development of bilateral relations, he said.

Noting that the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi said that China and Britain, both as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major global economies, share the responsibilities of advancing their respective national development and addressing global challenges.

Both countries should stick to their strategic partnership, adhere to the principles of mutual respect, open cooperation, and mutual learning, strive for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and jointly write the next chapter of healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, he added.

Xi said that while the two countries differ in history, culture, values, and social systems, they share extensive common interests.

The two countries enjoy vast space for cooperation in such areas as trade and investment, clean energy, financial services, healthcare and people's well-being, which should be further expanded to better benefit the people of both nations, he added.

China and Britain should promote political solutions to global issues, strengthen global governance on artificial intelligence, and contribute to world economic growth and the common development of all countries, he said.

Starmer said that Britain and China share extensive common interests and bear significant responsibilities in addressing global challenges and safeguarding world peace and development, adding that an enduring and strong bilateral relationship is vital not only for the two countries but also for the world at large.

The British side hopes to strengthen dialogue with China, enhance mutual understanding and carry out exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of areas, including economy and trade, technology, finance, healthcare, education, and addressing climate change, in a spirit of mutual respect, equality and candor, said Starmer.

Both countries are committed to multilateralism, and Britain stands ready to enhance multilateral communication and coordination with China to push for political solutions to regional hotspot issues, he added. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nov. 18, 2024. [Xinhua/Zhang Ling]