Beijing/London, Jan 29: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday told UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the two countries, as supporters of free trade, should jointly advocate and practice true multilateralism.
President Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Starmer, the first British prime minister to visit China in eight years, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The international law can only be truly effective when all countries abide by it, Xi was quoted as saying by the state-run news agency Xinhua.
President Xi said that major countries should take the lead in particular, otherwise, the world would risk regressing into the law of the jungle, according to Xinhua.
He said China will never pose a threat to other countries, no matter how it grows.
In a statement issued in London, Downing Street said that both leaders affirmed their shared commitment to building a consistent, long-term, and strategic partnership that will benefit both countries.
“They agreed they would continue to enhance co-operation on areas of mutual interest, while maintaining frank and open dialogue on areas of disagreement. The Prime Minister raised areas of concern to the UK,” it said.
Starmer, who is accompanied by a delegation of nearly 60 of Britain’s biggest businesses and cultural organisations, said that he hoped new partnerships could be forged and new opportunities unlocked for them in China.
“Growth and prosperity at home is directly linked to our engagement with the world’s biggest powers abroad,” the Prime Minister said.
Downing Street said that PM Starmer will clinch a new border security agreement with China to stem the flow of Chinese-made small boat parts used by smuggling gangs to illegally transport migrants into the UK.
Besides the prospect of lower Scotch whisky export tariffs and visa-free travel for British travellers to China, both sides are set for the first joint UK-China law enforcement action before Chinese boats and engines can reach criminal networks in Europe.
“Organised immigration crime and the business model of the smuggling gangs goes beyond borders, and our approach to shut them down must do the same,” said Starmer, in the statement released by 10 Downing Street in London.
“This deal will help us cut off the supply of boats at source – stopping crossings before lives are put at risk and restoring control to our borders. This is Britain back at the top table, delivering real results for the British people through our international relationships,” he said.
According to official UK government statistics, more than 60 per cent of all engines used by smuggling gangs last year were found to be branded as Chinese-manufactured engines.
Inflatable dinghies used in small boat crossings across the English Channel, often made using parts sourced in China, have been enabling gangs to pack ever larger numbers onto single vessels, with recent crossings carrying over 100 people in increasingly life-threatening conditions, Downing Street said.
Under the new border security agreement, UK law enforcement agencies are expected to work with Chinese authorities to prevent small boat engines and equipment used in Channel crossings getting into the hands of criminal gangs. This includes intelligence sharing to identify smugglers’ supply routes and direct engagement with Chinese manufacturers to prevent legitimate businesses from being exploited by organised crime.
Both countries are said to have also agreed to “scale up” removals of those with no right to be in the UK and intensify a crackdown on Chinese gangs producing synthetic opioids. (PTI)
