STORY
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to pursue what Downing Street described as pragmatic cooperation between Britain and China. Their telephone conversation on 8 September was the first publicly disclosed discussion between the two leaders since Burnham became Prime Minister in July.
Downing Street said the leaders discussed economic growth, living standards and the wider relationship between the two countries. Burnham also raised British concerns about domestic security, human rights, Hong Kong, Russia’s war in Ukraine and consular cases. No new trade agreement or individual commercial commitment was announced during the conversation.
China’s account said the countries had more common interests than differences and identified technology, education, healthcare and financial services as potential areas for cooperation. Xi also called for the rights of Chinese investors to be protected, in remarks interpreted by Reuters as a possible reference to the nationalisation of British Steel. The two Governments agreed to continue their dialogue, but neither side announced a date for an in person meeting.