Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a bilateral meeting during his visit to China, in Beijing, China, January 29, 2026. Photo: Carl Court/REUTERS

President Xi said as the world today is undergoing both changes and turbulence, China and Britain, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major economies, should enhance dialogue and cooperation in order to maintain world peace and stability, while promoting the economy and people's livelihoods of both countries.

Mr. Xi called on the two countries to transcend differences and maintain mutual respect, so that they can translate the promising potential of cooperation into remarkable accomplishments, and open up new vistas for China-Britain relations and cooperation.

The Chinese top leader called on the two countries to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in education, health, finance and the service industry. He also stressed the need to carry out joint research and industrial application in the fields of artificial intelligence, bioscience, new energy and low-carbon technologies, among others, to achieve shared development and prosperity.

PM Starmer said it is vital for Britain and China to build a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership with mutual respect and trust. He underlined China’s vital role in international affairs and called for a higher level of relations between the two countries.