UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in China on a three-day official visit, becoming the first British leader to travel to the country in eight years. Announcing his arrival on X, Starmer said he had “touched down in China” with the aim of delivering tangible outcomes for the British people.
The last UK prime minister to visit China was Theresa May in 2018. Starmer’s trip, scheduled from January 28 to 31, is being closely watched by international stakeholders, including the United States and India, as Britain attempts to balance economic cooperation with national security concerns.
During the visit, Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing as both nations look to ease long-standing tensions and rebuild bilateral ties. Relations between the UK and China have been strained in recent years due to concerns over national security, Hong Kong, and Beijing’s support for Russia.
With economic growth slowing at home and global markets facing uncertainty, Starmer is seeking to strengthen trade and investment links with China. His visit comes at a time when several US allies are re-engaging with Beijing following disruptions to global trade during the presidency of Donald Trump.
China’s Commerce Ministry has stated that Beijing is ready to expand cooperation with the United Kingdom and work toward new agreements to boost bilateral trade and investment.
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