British media reported today: UK Prime Minister Starmer met with Chinese officials.

China stated that China and the UK must "go beyond differences," as it is now "imperative" for world peace. The bilateral relationship has experienced "ups and downs that do not serve our national interests," but now it should establish a "cooperation that can withstand the test of history": "As leaders, we should not avoid difficulties, but continue to move forward with perseverance, as long as it is the right thing and in line with the fundamental interests of the country and its people."

Starmer said that the UK prime minister's visit to China "has been too long," and it is crucial for the UK to build a "more mature relationship."

"I have always kept the British people in my mind. When we were elected into power 18 months ago, I stated that I would make Britain face the world again. Because we all know that events overseas affect everything that happens at home, from the prices on supermarket shelves to how safe we feel."

Commentary: In the current context where the US is pushing for bloc confrontation and forcing allies to take sides to contain China, the Starmer government has resisted the pressure from conservative forces against China, refusing to be bound by the US's policy toward China. Essentially, this reflects the UK's recognition that "after Brexit, relying solely on the US cannot support its status as a major power," and it is unwilling to sacrifice its own economic and livelihood interests for US hegemony. A "mature relationship" means not taking a black-or-white approach, cooperating while managing differences. This is a consensus among many European countries that have recently increased their interactions with China.

The statement by Starmer emphasizing "putting the British people first" exposes the hypocrisy of Western politicians' "diplomacy based on values." Previously, many British politicians often used values as an excuse to smear China. Now, Starmer directly linked "supermarket prices and national security," clearly acknowledging that cooperation with China concerns the fundamental interests of the British people. This shows that in the face of economic downturns and high inflation, ideological slogans ultimately yield to livelihood interests. "Facing the world" essentially means facing interests, and practical cooperation is what the people want.

From the Opium War to the Cold War, from the Sino-British Joint Declaration to the handover of Hong Kong, Sino-British relations have weathered a century of storms, proving that confrontation benefits no one, and cooperation is the right path. This meeting sets the tone of "withstanding the test of history," aiming to transcend short-term political calculations and ideological prejudices, focusing on common challenges and opportunities in the changing global landscape, and building a new type of major-country relationship characterized by mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and managing differences.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855631849221400/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.