The two leaders are understood to have greeted each other only briefly during a ‘brush-by’ rather than holding formal bilateral talks.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Chinese premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit last week amid speculation that he could visit Beijing early next year and the country’s controversial embassy in London will be approved.

The two leaders are understood to have greeted each other only briefly during a “brush-by” rather than holding formal bilateral talks, after which a readout covering what was discussed would usually be expected from Downing Street.

China was represented by premier Mr Li rather than president Xi Jinping at the meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, last week.

It comes after the Prime Minister vowed he would “robustly” protect the UK’s national inte

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