Further indications of Burnham’s approach to Beijing may lie in his previous role as mayor of Manchester.
According to a Chinese government readout of a meeting earlier this year with China’s consul general, Burnham expressed hope for “more solid results” in cooperation on green development, electric buses, advanced manufacturing and life sciences.
BALANCING MAJOR POWERS
While China remains Britain’s most complex relationship in Asia, India is increasingly viewed as one of its most important economic partners.
The Burnham government is expected to continue efforts to deepen trade ties with New Delhi and build on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force in mid-July. The pact is intended to expand investment, services and technology cooperation between the two countries, alongside broad tariff reductions.
But analysts say Britain’s strategy in Asia cannot be separated from its relationship with its closest ally, the United States, and that any shift towards India or China will have to be weighed against Washington’s priorities.
Tony Travers, associate dean at the London School of Economics’ School of Public Policy, said the new prime minister’s relationship with US President Donald Trump will be central to Britain’s foreign policy.
“Burnham will have to strike up a new relationship with Trump and other leading members of the US administration in a way that Starmer was seen as having done rather well at, despite his lack of success in domestic policy,” he said.
While Burnham has been publicly critical of Trump in the past, early signs suggest the relationship has begun positively.
Following their first phone call, Trump described it as a “very good conversation” and said he expected to meet Burnham “in the not too distant future”.
For the new British government, maintaining strong ties with Washington is expected to provide the diplomatic space needed to pursue its ambitions across Asia.
Miliband’s decision to make ASEAN his first overseas destination suggests Southeast Asia will feature prominently in those ambitions, even as London seeks to balance competing relationships with China, India and the US.