China Hopes UK PM Starmer's Resignation Will Not Disrupt Bilateral Ties

The Chinese government hopes the new British prime minister replacing Keir Starmer can maintain relations between the two countries. “Both countries need to work in the same direction, deepen bilateral cooperation and coordination in multilateral affairs, and jointly maintain the momentum of improvement and growth in bilateral relations,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday following a crushing defeat for the Labour Party in last May’s local elections, which triggered a loss of support within his ruling party. Starmer said the election for a new Labour Party leader would begin on 9 July and conclude before Parliament reconvenes in September. Starmer had previously visited China on 28-31 January and met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Guo Jiakun stressed that Starmer’s resignation was an internal matter for the UK. “That is an internal affair of the UK. We do not comment on it,” Guo said. He emphasised that China and the UK are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major global economies. “A long-term, stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides serves the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples, and contributes to world peace, stability, and prosperity,” Guo added. Starmer had repeatedly signalled his determination to stay in office but ultimately bowed to increasingly vocal calls for his resignation from within his Cabinet. He explained his resignation was a response to his party’s question about whether he was the “best placed” to lead the party into the next election. “I have heard the answer from my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept it with good grace,” he said. Around 100 Labour MPs had called for Starmer’s resignation in May after the party’s local election failure, and the number reportedly grew after his political rival, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, won a parliamentary seat last week.