LONDON — During a G20 summit in Brazil, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized his desire to cultivate a robust and sustainable relationship with China as he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting marked a significant moment, being the first encounter between a British leader and Xi in several years, particularly following a period of strained relations tied to issues of security, human rights, and China’s alignment with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Starmer, who took office in July after his Labour Party secured a decisive electoral victory, is focused on mending relations with Beijing. The previous engagement between a British leader and Xi occurred back in 2018. In his remarks to Xi at their meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Starmer expressed, “We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful, as we have agreed (and) avoid surprises where possible.”

According to Downing Street, Starmer aims for a “pragmatic” approach to collaboration with China that supports global stability, enhances economic connections, and particularly addresses climate change and the transition to clean energy. However, he did not shy away from discussing more sensitive topics, including the situation of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy publisher and activist from Hong Kong. Lai, who holds U.K. citizenship and has been detained since December 2020, potentially faces a life sentence under a broad national security law instituted by Beijing in the former British territory.

As the meeting began, journalists were asked to leave the room just as Starmer broached Lai’s case, according to reports from Britain’s Press Association. His office later indicated that Starmer sought to “engage honestly and frankly” about their differing views on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and the conflict in Ukraine.

In response, Xi remarked that despite their differences, the U.K. and China possess opportunities for increased cooperation and should work towards enhancing political trust to achieve mutual benefits, as reported by China’s Xinhua state news agency. Today’s discussion follows a recent visit from U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Beijing, as he engaged in talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, last month.