LD Writethru: Chinese PM calls on China, Britain to properly handle disagreements

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, on Sept. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

NEW DELHI, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Sunday that China and Britain should properly handle disagreements, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns.

Both China and Britain are major global economies, closely linked economically, Li said during his meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit.

Both sides should strive to bring more benefits to each other and the world with stable and mutually beneficial relations between China and Britain, Li said, adding that China is willing to work with Britain to adhere to mutual respect, treat each other as equals and view each other. as equals. development of others objectively, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and promote the long-term and stable development of China-Britain relations.

The two sides should adhere to open cooperation, safeguard and expand common interests, the Chinese premier said, noting that China and Britain are both advocates, practitioners and beneficiaries of free trade, and the two countries should jointly oppose mixing commercial and economic cooperation with politics. and security, promote the construction of an open world economy, defend the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at the core, and ensure the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains.

The two sides should properly handle differences, uphold the spirit of inclusiveness and mutual learning, and respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, Li said.

He said China welcomes Britain to continue expanding practical cooperation with China and is willing to deepen cooperation with the country in such fields as trade, investment, ecological development, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and science and technology. to jointly support and promote global sustainable development.

For his part, Sunak said Britain respects China’s history and culture and attaches importance to China’s important role in the international system.

Britain, he said, is willing to maintain constructive and sincere dialogues with China, strengthen practical cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, and science and technology, properly manage differences, jointly address climate change and other global challenges. , and build stable and mutual structures. beneficial relations between Britain and China.■