UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was “vital” to build a “more sophisticated relationship” with China as he made the first visit of a British leader to the country in eight years. Starmer’s four-day trip comes as he looks to mend strained ties with the world’s second biggest economy in the face of global frictions unleashed by Britain’s closest ally the United States.
“China is a vital player on the global stage, and it’s vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship,” Starmer told Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a meeting at Beijing’s ornate Great Hall of the People on Thursday.
“Our international partnerships help us deliver the security and prosperity the British people deserve, and that is why I’ve long been clear that the UK and China need a long term, consistent, and comprehensive strategic partnership,” he said. Chinese leader Xi Jinping also said China was willing to develop a “stable, and comprehensive strategic partnership” in remarks to the visiting leader and called for the two sides to “create new momentum” in their relationship.
Starmer is the latest in a string of leaders from US allies traveling to Beijing as US President Donald Trump’s tariffs threats and unpredictable foreign policy – including rhetoric earlier this month threatening to take control of Danish territory Greenland – upend America’s longstanding partnerships. The visit is also a key step in Starmer’s bid to reset a relationship that has in recent years been riddled with mistrust and friction – part of his broader push to expand business opportunities with China to deliver on economic growth.
Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Xi, Starmer hailed the summit as a “very good, constructive meeting with real outcomes” and stressed the “huge opportunities” for British business in China. He also described the relationship with Beijing as in “good place, a strong place.” He said the two sides made “some really good progress” on reducing China’s tariffs on whisky and on visa free travel to China, as part of a “much wider opening of access for business that we discussed at great length.” Another take-away was security-related cooperation on “irregular migration” to Britain, he said.
The prime minister’s office later announced China had agreed to cut tariffs on Scotch whisky from 10% to 5% and to relax visa rules for British citizens for business and tourism travel under 30 days. Timelines for implementation were not specified. A delegation of nearly 60 businesses and cultural groups are traveling as part of Starmer’s delegation, including British corporate giants HSBC, GSK, Jaguar Land Rover. The group is also expected to visit China’a financial capital Shanghai.
Source: Here
