China lifted sanctions on British lawmakers after Starmer–Xi meeting, UK says
Prime minister says Beijing has removed 2021 curbs on MPs as part of a wider reset, though sanctions on others appear to remain
Beijing has lifted sanctions on British peers and lawmakers, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said, following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“This has been a cause of concern in parliament and for parliamentarians for some time and that is why I raised it on this visit,” Starmer told ITV News in Shanghai.
“And the response from the Chinese is that the restrictions no longer apply and President Xi has told me that that means that all parliamentarians are welcome to visit,” he added.
China’s Foreign Ministry appeared to confirm the move at a daily press conference in Beijing on Friday.
“Both sides agreed to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and facilitate personnel exchanges to deepen understanding and enhance mutual trust, and agreed in principle to resume normal exchanges between the two countries’ legislative bodies,” spokesman Guo Jiakun said.