Xi, UK PM Burnham Hold First Call, Signal Closer Ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham held their first publicly known telephone conversation on Tuesday evening, with both leaders expressing a commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations. The call, initiated at Burnham’s invitation, marked a significant diplomatic milestone since Burnham assumed office on July 20.

According to Xinhua News, Xi congratulated Burnham on taking office and emphasized that despite differences in social systems and national conditions, “China and the UK have more common interests than disagreements.” The Chinese president urged both sides to “respect and trust each other, rise above disagreements, find common ground, and broaden the agenda of mutually beneficial cooperation.”

A Diplomatic Reset

The conversation represents a pivotal moment in the evolving China-UK relationship under the new British government. Burnham, who became Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, brings a distinctly different approach to foreign policy shaped by his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 to 2026.

As SCMP has reported, Burnham has long viewed relations with China primarily through the lens of economic development. He led a major trade delegation to Beijing, Tianjin, and Shenzhen in 2018 and built strong ties with Chinese officials during his time as mayor. His senior advisor, Jim O’Neill—the economist who coined the “BRICS” term—has been a vocal advocate for closer UK-China economic ties.

During the call, Burnham recalled Xi’s 2015 state visit to Manchester, noting it had “a significant impact on promoting local exchanges and cooperation with China.” He affirmed that Britain would “maintain continuity in its policy toward China” and expressed a desire to “restore bilateral relations to their historic high,” according to the Chinese government’s official readout.

Economic Cooperation and Investor Protection

Xi highlighted areas of potential bilateral cooperation during China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), noting that Beijing will further open up its educational, healthcare, and financial sectors. He also expressed hope that the UK would “fully protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese investors.”

This remark is widely interpreted as a reference to the UK government’s nationalisation of British Steel in July, which was previously owned by China’s Jingye Group. As BBC News reported, China’s commerce ministry said the move “seriously infringed upon Jingye’s legitimate rights and interests and severely undermined the confidence of Chinese companies investing in the UK.”

Despite this tension, Reuters noted that relations between China and Britain have warmed in recent months, in part due to former Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing in January, when China agreed to extend a visa-free scheme to Britons and halve tariffs on whisky.

Addressing Differences Frankly

The Downing Street readout of the call, published by the UK Government, confirmed that Burnham said he “would engage frankly and constructively on issues that matter for both countries,” raising domestic security, Russia’s war in Ukraine, Hong Kong, human rights, and consular cases of particular importance.

Burnham also confirmed that Britain’s position on the Taiwan question remains unchanged, according to the Chinese Embassy’s English translation of the call.

Humanitarian Dimension

The conversation also touched on the devastating floods on the Nepal-China border that occurred in late August. As The Guardian reported, at least 48 British nationals were among those missing after flash floods triggered by a massive glacier collapse devastated Gyirong Port. Burnham commended China’s response to the disaster and thanked Chinese authorities for their assistance to affected British citizens.

Analysis: A Delicate Balancing Act

The call reveals a nuanced diplomatic landscape. Both leaders affirmed support for multilateralism and the UN’s central role, potentially aligning against US unilateralism. However, underlying tensions remain—particularly regarding the British Steel nationalisation and the UK’s willingness to raise sensitive issues.

Analysts at the Henry Jackson Society have characterized Burnham’s approach as “Osborne 2.0,” noting concerns about balancing economic engagement with national security considerations. The think tank has warned that those who “run to embrace Chinese trade, usually find that there are always accompanying political requirements.”

As TRT World observed, the call highlights the UK’s navigation between its “Special Relationship” with the US and growing economic interests in China.

What to Watch For

Observers will be watching whether the positive tone of this call translates into concrete diplomatic and economic outcomes. Key indicators include progress on high-level exchanges, resolution of the British Steel compensation dispute, and how the UK balances its security concerns with economic pragmatism in its China policy.

Both leaders agreed to stay in touch, with dialogue between their governments on a range of mutual priorities expected to continue in the coming months.