UK PM to Discuss Trade, Security, and Human Rights in China Visit
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping, marking the first visit by a UK prime minister since 2018. The trip aims to restore bilateral relations and strengthen trade, investment, and political cooperation between the two countries.
Starmer will also visit Shanghai and make a brief stop in Japan to meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. During the visit, he plans to discuss economic opportunities while addressing national security and human rights concerns.
Downing Street described the visit as an opportunity to deepen political trust and promote pragmatic engagement with China. Starmer emphasized the importance of engaging with China while safeguarding national security, noting the need for a balanced approach to bilateral relations.
The visit comes as UK-China ties remain strained over Hong Kong, espionage allegations, and Beijing’s relationship with Russia amid the war in Ukraine. Starmer is expected to raise the case of British national and Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai and engage on other sensitive issues while encouraging investment in key sectors, including finance, pharmaceuticals, and technology.
Chinese officials reiterated that Beijing sees the visit as a chance to strengthen political mutual trust, while Starmer seeks to reset long-fraught relations and bolster the UK’s economy through strategic engagement with China.
