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News Topical, Digital Desk : Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday agreed to develop a long-term, stable and comprehensive strategic partnership.
Starmer's visit to Beijing comes amid strained relations between Britain and the United States, seeking to improve ties with China. The visit risks angering Trump, who is already imposing tariffs and criticizing countries closest to the US.
The meeting between the two leaders, which lasted about 80 minutes at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, was closely watched by Washington. It came as the two countries are trying to mend their relations after years of tensions.
Xi Jinping said the international order has been facing serious disruption for some time, a veiled attack on Trump's unpredictable policies.
While Starmer described the meeting with Xi Jinping as useful and said, 'I think there is a need to work together on issues like climate change and global stability in this challenging time for the world.' Starmer is the first British Prime Minister to visit China since 2018.
The danger of countries close to America moving away
According to Reuters, President Trump's current tariff and trade policies are threatening to alienate close US allies. Trump's love of tariffs has led them to seek alternative trade options.
The latest example is the EU's trade deal with India, and the British Prime Minister's visit to China. However, it's also true that he can't avoid the need for American military power for long.
"Look at the European Union, they suddenly came into focus (in the wake of Trump's trade threats) and they acted," said Alexander George, senior director at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, referring to the EU's trade agreements with Latin American countries and India.
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