Xi Jinping urges Andy Burnham to seek common ground

Chinese President Xi Jinping told British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in a Tuesday phone call that China and Britain should deepen cooperation despite their differences, according to Beijing’s state media.

Xinhua said the call was initiated by Burnham and was his first publicised conversation with Xi. Burnham took office in July after the resignation of Keir Starmer, who had overseen early steps in a cautious rapprochement with Beijing.

“Although the social systems and national realities in our two nations are different, our common interests outweigh our differences,” Xi told Burnham, according to Xinhua. Xi said both countries should “seek common ground while accepting differences” and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.

Downing Street said Burnham promised to “engage frankly and constructively on issues that matter for both countries”. It said he raised domestic security, Russia’s war in Ukraine, Hong Kong, human rights and consular cases.

Relations between London and Beijing had been strained by disputes including Hong Kong, Britain’s removal of Huawei from 5G networks and criticism of China’s human rights record. Xinhua said Xi also told Burnham that Britain should safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese investors, after Britain’s July nationalisation of British Steel, formerly owned by Chinese company Jingye Steel.