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Hello and welcome to News Air from the BBC World Service.

We're coming to you live from London.

I'm James Menendez.

And we're going to begin today in China, in the capital Beijing,

where earlier today Britain's Prime Minister

Kirst Stama touched down for the first visit by a British leader since 2018. China is an

important trade partner. It's the UK's third largest. But the relationship's been pretty

frosty in recent years, with politicians of all stripes arguing that China's a threat to national security

and because of China's repression of dissent in Hong Kong, once a British colony, and of course

elsewhere. Here's Mr Stammer addressing those on board the plane to Beijing, business and cultural

leaders as well as a gaggle of reporters via its Tanoi system.

This is the first Prime Minister trip to China in eight years,

and we've got an excellent delegation on board from business, culture, art, sports,

and we're going to unlock opportunities for our country.

Sit back, enjoy the rest of the fight.

I'll be bringing the plane in.

Kirsten, I'm joking about landing the plane himself.

Well, later he laid out further how he would approach his dealings with China.

Of course, we will have to manage our differences,

but that's what you do with a mature, consistent, comprehensive and strategic approach to China.

We manage our differences. We take our opportunities.

...