Comprehensively adjusting foreign policy, encouraging economic and trade exchanges between the UK and China, and seeking to reshape relations with China, attracting attention

According to reports from media outlets such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Reuters, and Sky TV on the 18th, British Prime Minister Stamer met with Chinese leaders at the 19th G20 Summit in Brazil, seeking a 'pragmatic' relationship with China. This meeting is the first time since 2018 that a British Prime Minister has met with a Chinese leader, and the British media has given it high attention.

According to Xinhua News Agency, on the morning of the 18th local time, President Xi Jinping met with Stamo during his attendance at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro.   The two countries have broad space for cooperation in trade and investment, clean energy, financial services, health care and people's livelihood, and should continue to expand to better benefit the two peoples. Both sides should promote political solutions to hot issues, strengthen global governance of artificial intelligence, and contribute to promoting world economic growth and achieving common development of all countries.

According to reports from media outlets such as The Times and The Financial Times on the evening of the 18th, after meeting with Chinese leaders, Stamer stated that the UK must establish a "stable, lasting, and mutually respectful" relationship with China and "try to avoid any unforeseen circumstances as much as possible". He also stated that a strong UK China relationship is crucial for both countries and the broader international community. According to reports, Stamer proposed a comprehensive bilateral meeting between the two countries in the future.

Multiple British media outlets have reviewed that Stamer is the first British Prime Minister to meet with a Chinese President since Theresa May in 2018. After years of tense relations between China and the UK over issues such as human rights, Hong Kong, and allegations of Chinese espionage, the Labour government led by Stamer is seeking to reshape its relationship with China.

After the Labour Party won the UK general election this year, Stamer stated in a phone call between Chinese and British leaders in August that developing closer cooperation between the UK and China is in the long-term interests of both sides. Afterwards, British Foreign Secretary Lamy visited China in October to restart UK China relations, held meetings with senior Chinese officials in Beijing, and exchanged ideas with high-level economic and trade figures in Shanghai.

According to British media reports, Stamer stated before his departure that he would seek to establish a "pragmatic" relationship with China that is "rooted in British national interests". Stamer stated that both the UK and China are global participants, major powers, permanent members of the UN Security Council, and members of the G20. China is the world's second-largest economy and one of the UK's largest trading partners. "Participating in global affairs is in line with UK interests," and close cooperation with major economies is crucial to ensuring UK investment and job creation. "Therefore, I will hold talks with Chinese leaders and engage in serious and pragmatic discussions.

Reuters reported that in the past few years, the UK has become increasingly concerned about the potential national security risks of opening its doors to Chinese investment. However, Stamer seems to prioritize promoting trade to boost economic growth. If US President elect Trump fulfills his threat to impose tariffs on all imported products, the UK economy will face even greater difficulties in the context of Brexit. According to The Times, Stamer expressed on the 18th that he hopes British Chancellor of the Exchequer Reeves will soon visit Beijing to improve economic ties between the two countries.

Stamer is quite pragmatic and also hopes to establish a fundamental tone for the China UK relationship, with the aim of stabilizing it within a 5-10 year governance cycle. The UK actively engages with China, aiming to enhance its international influence and demonstrate its leadership. "Li Guanjie, a think tank researcher at the UK Research Center of the Shanghai Institute of Global Governance and Regional Studies at Shanghai Foreign Studies University, told Global Times reporters on the 18th that the British Labour Party is making fundamental adjustments to the Conservative Party's foreign policy over the past 14 years, including its global strategy after Brexit and its Asia Pacific tilt policy. China is a key focus of concern for the UK, while the UK is also waiting for the development of its relationship after the new US government takes office. The UK may adopt a more avant-garde stance on China policy in the Asia Pacific region than the United States, improving relations by strengthening economic ties.

The British Labour government has begun a review of the UK China relationship, and its increased encouragement of economic and trade exchanges with China has drawn fierce criticism from the opposition Conservative Party. The Daily Telegraph reported that Shadow Defence Secretary Catrich still insists that the UK needs to "keep its eyes wide open" and recognize the "threat" that China may pose to the UK, stating that reducing the Chinese element in the supply chain is the government's responsibility. The Financial Times reported that it is expected that the Labour government will continue to engage constructively with Beijing while imposing strict restrictions on trade related to national security issues.

Li Guanjie stated that there are significant differences between China and the UK, and it is difficult to achieve fundamental changes in the short term. However, the Stamer government is a strong government with enough seats to avoid being constrained by domestic opposition parties. Meanwhile, as a major country, the UK should formulate an independent foreign policy. Overall, despite the challenges, there is still a high possibility for the Labour government to improve the relationship between the UK and China.