Keir Starmer met President Xi at the G20 (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer sparked widespread fury by cosying up to Xi Jinping as the Communist leader praised his economic vision.
The Prime Minister said he wants a “serious and pragmatic” relationship with Beijing.
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And the Chinese premier sensationally claimed Sir Keir was trying to “fix the foundations” of the UK economy.
The phrase has become synonymous with Labour’s economic plan.
And in his opening remarks, Xi Jingping also made reference to Sir Keir’s bid to build stronger ties with the EU and China.
Critics fear Sir Keir is cosying up to Beijing (Image: Getty)
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “Britain's standing on the world stage risks being weakened if the Prime Minister does not robustly defend our national interest.
“While it is important to have a constructive diplomatic dialogue with China, the Prime Minister should have been stronger in raising our concerns over human rights, the repressive nature of the national security laws imposed on Hong Kong, and the security, safety and wellbeing of British nationals, like Jimmy Lai, who should be freed from custody.
“In this uncertain world, we need leaders who are clear about defending this country’s national interest, and who are not afraid to stand up against China’s malign influence with confidence and authority.
"Starmer must set out, as part of his supposed reset, what assurances he received from President Xi on the UK’s areas of concern.”
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: "President Xi has no regard for the UK and is trashing all the rules-based order around the world, from human rights to the WTO, China just ignores what it is told. Keir Starmer is “kowtowing” to the world’s greatest threat to the democratic global order.
"President Trump believes China is a threat to Western values and I happen to agree with him. I think they are.
"China has 230 times the shipbuilding capacity of America now, one shipyard in China can outbuild all of the United States.
“They are building up their army, and when it comes to commerce, lots of middle-ground companies are leaving China and there’s a reason for that. China steals their IP, trashes their businesses, and has no regard for WTO rules."
Opening the meeting in Rio, Xi Jinping said: “The world has entered a new period marked by turbulence and transformation.
“As permanent members of the UN security council and major global economies China and UK share the dual responsibility of advancing our respective national development and addressing global challenges.
“The new UK government is working to fix the foundations of the economy and rebuild britain and has set the vision of Britain reconnected.
“China and the UK have broad space for cooperation across various domains, including trade, investment, clean energy, financial services, healthcare and improving our peoples’ wellbeing.
“We should take fostering greater development better serving our peoples and contributing more to the world as our goal.
“Live up to our strategic partnership and commit to mutual respect, openness, cooperation, exchanges and mutual learning for shared benefit [...]
“In doing so we will break new ground in the China UK relationship amid a changing world and better underscore our relationship’s relevance for the times and its significance for the world.”
China is bolstering its army and navy, warning it could invade Taiwan, and is supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by effectively keeping Vladimir Putin’s economy afloat.
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Downing Street said they discussed “deepening the partnership” on trade and investment, health, education and other areas of mutual interest, such as international stability and climate change.
Number 10 added: “The Prime Minister said that he also wanted to engage honestly and frankly on those areas where we have different perspectives, including on Hong Kong, human rights and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“He reiterated that his approach would always be rooted in the national interests of the UK, but that we would be a predictable and pragmatic partner.”
Addressing the controversy, Sir Keir said: “I've been clear that I want a serious and pragmatic relationship with China.
“It's the second biggest economy in the world.
“It's one of our biggest trading partners and therefore we have issues that we clearly need to discuss, whilst, of course, being clear about the issues that we do not agree on.
“But I will always act in the national interest, and that was the basis upon which we had our discussions this morning.”
Sir Keir told the Chinese leader: “We want our relations to be consistent, durable, respectful, and as we have agreed, avoid surprises where possible.
“A strong UK China relationship is important for both of our countries and for the broader international community.
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“The UK will be a predictable, consistent, sovereign actor committed to the rule of law.”
He also proposed a full bilateral with President Xi in either Beijing or London.
Sir Keir raised human rights abuses in China, sanctions of British MPs and the treatment of Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai.