British PM heads to Rio: Major talks with China's leader after 6-year gap
British Prime Minister prepares for first UK-China leadership meeting since 2018 at G20 summit in Rio. Diplomatic agenda includes crucial talks about global trade partnerships and international security
Sir Keir Starmer is heading to Rio for a long-awaited face-to-face meeting with Chinas President Xi Jinping (scheduled for nov-18) – marking the first top-level UK-China talks since 2018
Speaking mid-flight Starmer outlined his goals: “We need a serious‚ pragmatic relationship with China; theyʼre our major trading partner and a global power.“ His approach shows a shift from previous hard-line positions: focusing on practical cooperation despite differing values
The G20 meeting comes at a complex time – with about 1000 days of conflict in Ukraine and upcoming US leadership changes. Starmer plans to meet with current US President Biden‚ possibly their final in-person talk before the new administration takes over
The summit has sparked debate about diplomatic approaches. Recent events showed mixed signals:
- German Chancellor Scholzʼs direct call to Putin
- Ukraineʼs Presidents criticism of such contact
- Canadian PMs support for dialogue
- Finnish and Polish leaders opposition to direct communication
The British leader aims to use this Rio meeting to boost global trade deals while keeping a careful balance between economic interests and international security concerns. Starmer noted: “Close co-operation with worlds leading economies is vital for UK investment; we can work together even when values differ“
