Full Breakdown
China and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Hold First Phone Call, Emphasize Shared Interests
9/8/2026, 10:31:21 PM
Xi and Burnham Discuss Expanding UK-China Cooperation
On September 8, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Britain’s newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the first publicly known conversation between the two leaders since Burnham assumed office on July 20. Burnham’s office described the call as focusing on “pragmatic cooperation” for economic growth and improving living standards, while also raising issues such as domestic security, Russia’s war in Ukraine, Hong Kong, human rights and consular cases.
Recent Bilateral Developments Leading to the Call
Relations between China and the United Kingdom have warmed over the past year. In January, former Labour leader Keir Starmer visited Beijing, after which China agreed to extend a visa-free travel scheme to British citizens and to halve tariffs on imported whisky. Both sides have cited a shared interest in diversifying trade partners amid growing friction with the United States.
Statements from Chinese and British Officials
Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that Xi congratulated Burnham on his appointment and urged the United Kingdom, as a fellow permanent UN Security Council member, to back multilateralism, free trade and an “equitable and orderly multipolar world.” A readout from China’s foreign ministry echoed these points, emphasizing that China and the UK are “major technology powers” with abundant resources in education, culture and sports, and should maintain an open, forward-looking outlook.
Potential Implications for Trade and Technology
Both governments signalled a desire to deepen cooperation across several high-value sectors. If pursued, joint initiatives in technology and finance could bolster each country’s economic growth and provide alternatives to reliance on the United States. At the same time, the call underscores ongoing diplomatic sensitivities, as the United Kingdom balances its security concerns and human-rights agenda with the pursuit of expanded commercial ties to China.
