China’s Xi Jinping today warned Andy Burnham to ‘protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese investors’ in the UK following a row over British Steel.
In their first phone call since Mr Burnham became Prime Minister, the Chinese President said their two countries should ‘respect and trust each other’.
It comes after China hit out at the Government’s recent nationalisation of British Steel, which was previously owned by China’s Jingye Group.
Beijing previously said it was ‘strongly dissatisfied’ with the decision, while Jingye Group has demanded compensation.
In a readout of Mr Xi’s call with Mr Burnham, from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese President is said to have urged the PM to work together on boosting economic growth.
‘Despite having different social systems and national conditions, China and the UK have more common interests than disagreements,’ the readout said.
‘The two sides should respect and trust each other, rise above disagreements, find common ground, and broaden the agenda of mutually beneficial cooperation.
‘With a shared commitment to growing the economy and improving living standards, the two governments can complement and reinforce each other’s efforts.’
China’s Xi Jinping today warned Andy Burnham to ‘protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese investors’ in the UK following a row over British Steel.
In their first phone call since Mr Burnham became Prime Minister, the Chinese President said their two countries should ‘respect and trust each other’
It comes after China hit out at the Government’s recent nationalisation of British Steel, which was previously owned by China’s Jingye Group
Mr Xi is also said to have told Mr Burnham that their two countries ‘should keep an open and forward-looking mind and strengthen exchanges and cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral relations’.
‘It is hoped that the UK will fully protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese investors,’ the readout added.
In Downing Street’s own readout of Mr Burnham’s call with Mr Xi, a No10 spokeswoman said the PM and Chinese President ‘affirmed their commitment to a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between the UK and China’.
‘As Permanent Members of the UN Security Council and major economies, they discussed the importance of pragmatic cooperation in advancing UK and Chinese interests and addressing shared global challenges,’ the spokeswoman added.
‘They discussed the opportunities in the UK-China relationship including on economic growth and improving living standards for people in both their countries.
‘The Prime Minister said that he would engage frankly and constructively on issues that matter for both countries, and raised domestic security, Russia’s war in Ukraine, Hong Kong, human rights and consular cases of particular importance.’
Mr Burnham’s language signalled a continuation of the approach to China taken by his predecessor Keir Starmer, who promised to ‘co-operate where we can’ with the world’s second-largest economy but ‘challenge where we must’ on areas of disagreement.
During his premiership, Sir Keir attempted to reset UK-China relations following a cooling of ties under the previous Tory government.
Sir Keir visited China in January this year, which made him the first British PM to visit the country since Theresa May in 2018, as he pushed for greater economic links in his scramble for growth.
But Labour has come under pressure to take a harder line on China including over issues such as the treatment of the Uighur population and the imprisonment of British citizen Mr Lai, which Mr Burnham is understood to have raised during the talks.
Sir Keir brought British Steel under public ownership in one of his final acts as PM in July.
The Government said the move was essential to maintain steel production at British Steel’s site in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, to protect both the company’s future and UK supply chains.
British Steel was previously owned by Jingye Group, which planned to close its Scunthorpe blast furnaces in North Lincolnshire.
But Parliament was recalled on a Saturday in April last year to approve special measures legislation to keep the plant open.
Ministers gained new powers to tell the firm how it can use and manage its assets but did not take a stake in the company at the time.
