Xi Jinping and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Hold Phone Talks, Pledge to Strengthen China–UK Strategic Partnership
Dragon Media News Desk
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Tuesday, congratulating him on taking office and calling for China–UK relations to develop in a long-term, stable and mutually beneficial direction.
According to an official readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi said China and the United Kingdom enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership. Although the two countries have different social systems and national conditions, he noted that their common interests outweigh their differences. Xi called on both sides to respect and trust each other, properly manage disagreements, seek common ground and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.
Xi said both governments share the goals of promoting economic growth and improving living standards, and that their respective development efforts could complement and reinforce one another. He indicated that cooperation in trade, investment, finance, technology, green development and other practical areas could deliver tangible benefits to people in both countries.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major global economies, China and the UK both support multilateralism, open trade and the central role of the United Nations, Xi said. He called for stronger coordination in the UN, G20 and World Trade Organization and urged the two countries to work together toward an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
During the conversation, Burnham said the UK would maintain consistency in its China policy and remain committed to building a long-term and stable strategic partnership with Beijing. According to the Chinese readout, he expressed support for increased high-level exchanges, broader practical cooperation and stronger people-to-people ties, while also stating that the UK’s position on the Taiwan question remains unchanged.
Burnham also referred to his long-standing connection with China from his time as mayor of Greater Manchester. He recalled Xi’s visit to Manchester during the Chinese president’s 2015 State Visit to the UK and the positive impact it had on relations between the city and China.
China and the UK declared a “golden era” in bilateral relations in 2015, when their ties were at one point viewed as an important driver of broader China–Europe relations. In subsequent years, particularly after Brexit, political and security tensions increased, although trade, investment and financial links remained comparatively resilient.
Chinese analysts quoted in the original report said the UK now appears to be seeking greater stability and pragmatism in its China policy while preserving more room for strategic maneuver. They argued that economic pressures, changes in global trade and supply chains, and Britain’s desire for greater strategic autonomy make sustained engagement with China increasingly important.
Xi also expressed hope that the UK would fully protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese investors. The issue has gained attention following the British government’s nationalization of British Steel, a subsidiary of China’s Jingye Group, a move that drew strong criticism from China’s Ministry of Commerce.
Analysts said future China–UK relations are likely to feature both competition and cooperation. Political mistrust and occasional friction may persist, but significant room for cooperation remains in green finance, biomedicine, advanced manufacturing, the digital economy, basic research, trade and investment.
The Xi–Burnham phone conversation indicated that both sides are seeking to manage political differences while expanding economic and practical cooperation. Their shared emphasis on multilateralism, open trade and global governance could provide further momentum for efforts to place China–UK relations on a more stable and pragmatic track.
