Is it okay to apologize, but no compensation? British PM responds to historical responsibility for slave trade

China News Service, October 31. According to the British "Guardian" report on October 30, local time, British Prime Minister Burnham officially apologized for the UK's role in the transatlantic slave trade in an article published in the "Guardian".

According to reports, Burnham has made a statement that exceeds the scale of any previous prime minister; the matter is expected to become a core topic at the upcoming Commonwealth leaders' meeting.

According to reports, as he is about to leave for the Caribbean next week, Burnham said that he was open to calls for him to make a formal apology on behalf of his country and offered to start formal negotiations with affected parties, including individual countries and domestic and foreign rights groups.

Burnham wrote: "The Britain I believe in is confident, decent and brave. We were the first to abolish slavery in the world - and today we can show leadership again."

The report added that while any formal statement would depend on the outcome of the negotiations, Burnham offered what amounted to a personal apology, saying he wished to express "sorrow and regret" for the suffering of millions of people and acknowledging the impact of the slave trade on the world that continues to this day.

However, he has rejected calls from Caribbean countries and rights activists for Britain to pay financial compensation for its role in the slave trade, maintaining the position of successive governments that the British people today should not bear responsibility for the past.

Burnham said he would launch a new debt restructuring operation for the poorest Commonwealth countries to help them repay their debts with longer maturities and more favorable interest rates. The plan will be led by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and is expected to eventually involve the International Monetary Fund and other institutions.