British Prime Minister Keir
Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday
for talks he hopes will deepen their economic relationship,
signalling a breakthrough in ties after years of distrust and
acrimony.
On the most important day of his four-day visit to China,
Starmer was greeted by Xi at the Great Hall of the People for a
discussion expected to last around 40 minutes, before they lunch
together. He will also meet Premier Li Qiang later on Thursday.
Starmer, whose centre-left Labour Party government has
struggled to deliver the economic growth it promised, has made
improving relations with China one of his priorities in the hope
it can yield business opportunities.
The visit to China, the first by a British prime minister
since 2018, comes amid tension between Britain and its
longstanding close ally the United States over President Donald
Trump’s recent remarks, including threats to take control of
Greenland.
Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese studies at King’s College
London, said he expected that a number of deals between Britain
and China would be announced to show how their relationship has
improved.
“This must look like it’s been a success,” he said. “For
both sides, they don’t want a meeting which is going to be
arguing about things they disagree on.”
European and other Western countries have engaged in a
flurry of diplomacy with China as they hedge against
unpredictability from the United States under Trump.
Starmer’s visit immediately follows that of Canadian Prime
Minister Mark Carney, who signed an economic deal with Beijing
to tear down trade barriers, drawing Trump’s ire.
China is also eager to mend ties, portraying the
relationship with Britain as being at a “pivotal moment”.
“China stands ready to take this visit as an opportunity to
enhance political mutual trust with Britain, deepen practical
cooperation…and together make due efforts and contributions to
world peace, security and stability,” the state-run Xinhua news
agency said in an editorial on Wednesday.
SEEKING A “MATURE” RELATIONSHIP
Starmer has adopted a new policy of engagement with China
after relations deteriorated for years under previous
Conservative governments when London restricted some Chinese
investment over national security worries and expressed concern
over a crackdown on political freedoms in Hong Kong.
Speaking to a delegation of business leaders hours after
arriving in the country on Wednesday, Starmer said it was time
for a “mature” relationship between Britain and the world’s
second-biggest economy.
He then dined at a Chinese restaurant known for its
mushroom-laden dishes that also hosted former U.S. Treasury
Secretary Janet Yellen during her 2023 visit. He discussed how
to pronounce the Chinese word for thank you – ‘xie xie’ – as he
posed for photos with restaurant staff, a video posted on Weibo
showed.
In a sign of how the countries can work together, Downing
Street said Starmer and Xi would announce that Britain and China
would work together to tackle the gangs involved in trafficking
illegal migrants.
The deal will be focused on reducing the use of Chinese-made
engines for small boats being used to transport people across
Europe to claim asylum.
British and Chinese officials will share intelligence to
identify smugglers’ supply routes and work with Chinese
manufacturers to prevent legitimate businesses from being
exploited by organised crime, Downing Street.
Starmer told reporters on the plane to China that he will
“raise the issues that need to be raised” on human rights with
Xi when asked if he will bring up the case of Jimmy Lai, the
former Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen who was
convicted in December of national security crimes.
But the presence of more than 50 business leaders
accompanying Starmer and his itinerary shows the priority for
this trip is economic ties.
“Everything you’re doing here, everything I’m doing here is
focused on how do we benefit people at home,” he told the
business leaders on Wednesday.
Published on January 29, 2026
