BRITISH Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday called for a “sophisticated relationship” with China, emphasising the need for dialogue and collaboration as he sought to bolster the UK economy during a landmark visit to Beijing. The summit marked the first visit by a British prime minister to China since 2018.
Starmer held an 80-minute meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, before the two leaders lunched together. The discussion ranged from Shakespeare and football to business and trade, reflecting a mix of cultural diplomacy and economic engagement.
“China is a vital player on the global stage, and it’s vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship where we can identify opportunities to collaborate, but of course, also allow a meaningful dialogue on areas where we disagree,” Reuters cited Starmer telling Xi at the start of their talks.
Xi acknowledged that ties between the two nations had experienced “twists and turns” that had not served either country’s interests.
“We can deliver a result that can withstand the test of history,” he said, flanked by senior ministers, signalling Beijing’s willingness to develop a long-term partnership.
Starmer’s visit comes amid a flurry of Western diplomacy aimed at hedging against unpredictability from the United States under former President Donald Trump, whose previous trade threats and unconventional foreign policy moves had caused friction with long-standing allies, including Britain.
Starmer’s trip immediately followed a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who signed a trade deal with Beijing.
On the economic front, Starmer indicated progress in discussions to reduce tariffs on British whisky. Xi also said China would consider waiving visa requirements for UK nationals, while Starmer confirmed to reporters that the “relationship is in a good place, a strong place.”
When asked if Xi was someone he could do business with, Starmer replied simply, “yes.”
In a demonstration of practical cooperation, the two governments announced a joint initiative to combat gangs involved in smuggling migrants.
The agreement focuses on reducing the use of Chinese-made engines for small boats used to transport people illegally across Europe. British and Chinese officials will share intelligence to trace smuggling routes and work with Chinese manufacturers to prevent exploitation by organised crime, Downing Street said.
Starmer has made engagement with China a central element of his foreign policy, seeking to reverse years of strained relations under previous Conservative governments, which restricted some Chinese investment over security concerns and criticised Beijing’s approach to political freedoms in Hong Kong.
“I made the promise 18 months ago, when we were elected into government, that I would make Britain face outwards again,” Starmer told Xi. “Because, as we all know, events abroad affect everything that happens back in our home countries, to prices on the supermarket shelves to how secure we feel.”
During his visit, Starmer also discussed the case of Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen convicted in December of national security crimes, describing the conversation with Xi as “respectful.”
The British leader’s trip has included cultural gestures as well. Upon arriving in Beijing on Wednesday, he dined at a restaurant famed for its mushroom dishes, where he practised pronouncing the Chinese word for thank you, “xie xie,” with staff while posing for photographs, a video posted on Weibo showed.
Starmer is scheduled to meet Premier Li Qiang later in his four-day visit, accompanied by more than 50 business leaders, underscoring his emphasis on both political engagement and commercial opportunity. - January 29, 2026
