On the evening of September 8, 2026, President Xi Jinping took a phone call from U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

President Xi congratulated Mr. Burnham on taking office as U.K. Prime Minister. He noted that China and the U.K. enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership. Despite having different social systems and national conditions, China and the U.K. have more common interests than disagreements. The two sides should respect and trust each other, rise above disagreements, find common ground, and broaden the agenda of mutually beneficial cooperation. With a shared commitment to growing the economy and improving living standards, the two governments can complement and reinforce each other’s efforts. Over the next five years, China will further open up its educational, healthcare and financial sectors under its 15th Five-Year Plan, all of which creates potential for bilateral cooperation. China and the U.K. are both strong in science and technology, and have rich educational, cultural and sports resources. The two countries should keep an open and forward-looking mind and strengthen exchanges and cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral relations. It is hoped that the U.K will fully protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese investors. As permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and the world’s leading economies, both China and the U.K. support multilateralism and open trade, and uphold the central role of the U.N. The two countries need to strengthen communication and coordination in the U.N., G20 and WTO, and work together to advance an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Prime Minister Burnham agreed with President Xi. He noted his long-standing connection with China as mayor of Greater Manchester. He recalled President Xi’s visit to the city as part of his State Visit to the U.K. in 2015 and the impact it had on Manchester’s ties with China. He emphasized that the U.K. will maintain consistency in its China policy and be steadfast in building the long-term and consistent strategic partnership with China. The U.K. will pursue high-level interactions with China, take forward various areas of cooperation, strengthen people-to-people ties, and take the relationship to strong levels not seen before for the benefit of people in both nations. The U.K.’s position on the Taiwan question is unchanged. Confronting volatile and complicated international dynamics, the U.K. and China, as U.N. Security Council P5 members, should tackle international hot spots through dialogue, address climate change and other global challenges, and work together to advance stability and prosperity around the world. Prime Minister Burnham commended China for its exemplary response to the mudslide on its border with Nepal, and thanked the Chinese side for its assistance to the affected British nationals.