Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised for meeting China’s president Xi Jinping just hours before 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were sentenced for attempting to field opposition candidates in an election.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday to establish "consistent, durable" relations between their two nations, pressing on with efforts to thaw ties between London and Beijing at a G20 summit.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he wants a strong and durable relationship with China as he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Brazil

LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will seek to build a "pragmatic" relationship with China that is "rooted in the UK's national interests" when he meets President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil on Monday.

Sir Keir Starmer has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Brazil on Monday, the first time a British premier has shaken hands with the leader since 2018.The pair talked in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and Sir Keir pledged to have “pragmatic” discussions with the leader of the Asian economic superpower when they speak.

Sir Keir Starmer will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Brazil today. He will become the first British premier to meet the authoritarian leader since 2018 when the pair hold talks in Rio de Janeiro amid a backlash from the Tories.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, his office said in a statement on Sunday. Starmer will call for Britain and other major economies to engage with China "pragmatically" on areas of mutual cooperation,

Starmer set for talks with Chinese president Xi at G20 summit - Starmer set to become first British PM to meet with Chinese leader in more than half a decade