Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing this week for the first trip to China by a UK leader in eight years, vowing to raise human rights concerns with President Xi Jinping, including the case of imprisoned pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai (The Guardian, Sky News). The visit, aimed at improving economic relations, comes amid a significant shift in the UK-China relationship, a far cry from the "golden era" symbolized by former Prime Minister David Cameron's pub visit with Xi Jinping a decade ago (Sky News).
Downing Street confirmed that Starmer would address areas of disagreement with Xi, specifically citing human rights abuses in China (The Guardian). Starmer also intends to discuss the situation of the Uyghur population (The Guardian). Helen-Ann Smith, Asia correspondent for Sky News, noted that issues of espionage and trade would also be on the table during the discussions.
The visit occurs against a backdrop of increasing global scrutiny of China's human rights record. Starmer's commitment to raise these issues directly with Xi Jinping signals a potentially more assertive stance compared to previous UK administrations. The Prime Minister's agenda reflects a delicate balancing act between pursuing economic opportunities and upholding human rights principles.
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