Starmer and Xi in Beijing
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday as Britain and China moved to reset their relationship after years marked by political friction and disputes over security, Hong Kong and support for Russia in its war on Ukraine.
In their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi and Starmer framed the discussions around deepening cooperation while the broader global environment remains unsettled. Xi told Starmer that, amid a “turbulent and ever-changing international situation,” China and the U.K. need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation “to maintain world peace and stability,” according to remarks reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Starmer said that “working together on issues like climate change, global stability during challenging times for the world is precisely what we should be doing.” The two leaders met for 80 minutes, double the scheduled time, as their governments try to improve ties after a period of acrimony.
Downing Street said afterward that Britain wanted “a consistent, long-term, and strategic partnership that will benefit both countries.” Starmer said the talks produced “really good progress” across a range of issues and added that “the relationship is in a good place, a strong place.”
The meeting also carried the context of ongoing criticism of Starmer’s engagement with Beijing. Starmer’s visit comes less than two months after a Hong Kong court convicted Jimmy Lai, a former newspaper publisher and British citizen, under Hong Kong’s national security law that Beijing imposed after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. Starmer said he raised human rights concerns with Xi during the visit and described the exchange as “respectful discussion.”
Trade, security and business deals
Starmer’s trip includes meetings with multiple senior Chinese officials, with the visit set to extend across four days and include a stop in Shanghai. Starmer also met with Zhao Leji, chairman of China’s legislature, the National People’s Congress, and with Premier Li Qiang, who told Starmer that the efforts to improve relations had been “widely welcomed” in both countries.
Starmer’s government said the trip produced business announcements and government agreements aimed at expanding economic ties. Those included lower Chinese tariffs on Scotch whisky and 30-day visa-free travel to China for U.K. tourists and business visitors, alongside broader moves meant to attract investment and market access.
Among the deals announced during the trip, a drugmaker investment was reported as $15 billion in China through 2030 by AstraZeneca. The two countries also agreed to start with a “feasibility study” before negotiating a services agreement to improve access for U.K. professional and financial services firms to China’s market.
Starmer told the U.K.-China Business Council that he was seeking “a more sophisticated relationship fit for these times.” He said, “I would like to echo a Chinese phrase, which I think captures the essence of what I’m talking about: pursue common goals whilst reserving differences,” adding that this is what the two sides are working together to achieve.
Navigating controversies and the “difficulties” ahead
The leaders’ effort to warm ties unfolded against unresolved disagreements that have contributed to the chill in relations in recent years. The Associated Press report cited allegations of Chinese spying in Britain, China’s support for Russia in Moscow’s war on Ukraine and the crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong, the former British colony returned to China in 1997.
Starmer also appeared to navigate specific controversy tied to Britain’s handling of China’s diplomatic presence. The U.K. recently approved controversial plans for a huge Chinese Embassy in London, which the report described as both reducing a sticking point in relations and overriding concerns that a “mega-embassy” could make it easier for China to conduct espionage and intimidate dissidents.
Xi appeared to acknowledge criticism of Starmer’s approach, saying in remarks reported by CCTV: “Good things often come with difficulties.” Xi added that “as long as it is the right thing to do in accordance with the fundamental interests of the country and its people, leaders will not shy away from difficulties and will forge ahead bravely.”
Starmer linked the outreach to his wider political goals, telling the report that he had promised 18 months ago to make Britain “face outward again,” saying that events abroad affect “prices on the supermarket shelves” and “how secure we feel.”
Broader diplomatic ripple effects
The meeting in Beijing also took place amid wider shifts in global trade and alliances, which officials cited as making cooperation more important. The report said Vietnam and the European Union upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in Hanoi on Thursday, two days after the EU and India announced a free trade agreement.
Speaking in Hanoi, European Council President Antonio Costa said, “At a moment when the international rules-based order is under threat from multiple sides, we need to stand side by side as reliable and predictable partners.”
The Associated Press report also said Starmer’s trip arrived after other U.S. ally leaders visited Beijing in January, including South Korea, Canada and Finland, with the German chancellor expected to visit next month.
In addition to the meetings with Xi and other officials, Starmer’s government said the visit is aimed at securing growth and addressing Britain’s economic challenges, including cost-of-living pressures that the report said have tested the new Labour government’s plans for economic performance.