STARMER BEGINS FIRST UK–CHINA VISIT – UK PM seeks to reset ties with Beijing amid global tensions
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in China, marking the first visit by a UK leader in eight years, as he looks to reset relations with the world’s second-largest economy and reduce Britain’s reliance on the United States.
During the three-day trip, Starmer will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing before travelling to Shanghai, accompanied by senior ministers and a large business delegation. He will then make a brief stop in Japan.
A senior policy adviser at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change said the visit will focus on a wide range of bilateral issues, with trade and investment high on the agenda, despite the broader geopolitical backdrop involving the United States.
The visit comes at a sensitive time in global politics, following the UK government’s approval of China’s controversial plan to build a large new embassy in central London.
Starmer has said that China poses national security challenges for Britain but argues that closer economic ties are in Britain’s national interest. Since taking office in 2024, he has made rebuilding relations with Beijing a priority after years of strained ties over Hong Kong, espionage allegations and cybersecurity concerns.
