Premier Li calls on UK’s Sunak to continue ‘pragmatic cooperation’ with China

China’s Premier Li Qiang met his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak on Sunday on sidelines of the G-20 summit in India’s capital New Delhi.

Li, according to Chinese state media, called on the UK to continue “pragmatic cooperation” with China.

China is willing to deepen bilateral cooperation in sectors such as trade, investment, green development and tech to support and boost global sustained development, Li, who represented Chinese President Xi Jinping at the summit, told Sunak.

Li said China and the UK should oppose mixing trade and economic cooperation with politics and security, promote an open economy and uphold the multilateral trading system in line with principles laid down by the World Trade Organization.

Sunak’s office did not immediately release a statement on the meeting, but PA Media, the UK’s national news agency, said Sunak told Li concerns about “Chinese interference in the UK’s parliamentary democracy,” hours after news of two arrests in the UK over accusations of spying for China.

Li also met Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, on Saturday and said China’s development is an opportunity rather than a risk for Europe, and the two sides should deepen their cooperation. China is always a reliable friend and partner for Europe, he added.

Other interactions on Sunday included Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also came face to face with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau and African Union President Azali Assoumani.

The two-day summit came to a close with Modi handing over the G-20 term presidency to Brazil.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez skipped the two-day meeting.

The forum agreed on a consensus declaration that avoided condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine, but called on all states not to use force to seize territory, and welcomed the African Union as a member.

US President Joe Biden and his allies also announced plans to build a rail and shipping corridor linking India with the Middle East and Europe.

The leaders on the final day of the summit paid their respects to Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat memorial site in New Delhi.