Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing for the first UK prime ministerial visit to China since 2018, aiming to recalibrate a relationship strained by years of disagreement. The trip seeks to boost trade and investment while addressing national security and human rights concerns. Accompanied by around 60 business and cultural figures, Starmer will meet President Xi and Premier Li Qiang and is expected to raise the case of Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai. The visit comes amid low domestic approval for the prime minister and a broader wave of Western engagement with Beijing.
Starmer Visits Beijing to Reset Ties and Defend a 'Pragmatic' Partnership
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and China's President Xi Jinping at a 2024 meeting at a G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro (Stefan Rousseau)(Stefan Rousseau/POOL/AFP)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed in Beijing on Wednesday to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping as he seeks to repair relations that have been strained for years. The visit — the first by a UK prime minister to China since 2018 — is being framed as a pragmatic effort to deepen trade and investment while also confronting sensitive issues such as national security and human rights.
Starmer is due to visit Shanghai on Friday and will make a short stop in Japan after his China trip to meet Japanese leaders. Downing Street says the visit could help attract vital investment and support Britain's economy at a time when the prime minister faces low approval ratings at home.
Meetings And Messages
On Thursday Starmer will have lunch with President Xi and later meet Premier Li Qiang. He told reporters the trip would be 'a really important trip for us' and pledged to try to achieve 'some real progress.' Speaking on the flight to Beijing he said there were 'opportunities' to deepen bilateral relations, adding that 'it doesn't make sense to stick our head in the ground and bury in the sand when it comes to China — it's in our interests to engage and not compromise on national security.'
China's foreign ministry described the visit as an opportunity to 'enhance political mutual trust', Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a briefing.
Balancing Trade, Security And Rights
Starmer is travelling with roughly 60 business and cultural figures from sectors including finance, pharmaceuticals and autos as he tries to strike a balance between attracting investment and safeguarding national security. Downing Street emphasises trade and investment gains, while also saying it will raise difficult issues.
Relations between the UK and China worsened after Beijing imposed a broad national security law in Hong Kong in 2020. Tensions have further deepened amid mutual accusations of spying and disagreements over human rights and China's ties with Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Specific Issues: Hacking Claims And Jimmy Lai
Starmer rejected recent media claims that Chinese actors had hacked mobile phones of senior Downing Street officials, saying 'there's no evidence of that' and pointing to the government's security arrangements. He is also expected to raise the case of Hong Kong media entrepreneur and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, a British national convicted on national security-related charges and facing a lengthy sentence.
When asked whether he would press China on Lai, Starmer declined to offer specifics but said engagement is necessary so 'issues where we disagree can be discussed.' He has faced criticism from opponents who argue his approach to Beijing is too soft; human rights groups have urged him to press for Lai's release.
Wider Context
Starmer's visit follows several Western leaders travelling to Beijing in recent months as some countries seek to re-engage with China amid perceived shifts in US policy. Beijing has used many of those visits to underline its support for multilateral institutions such as the United Nations.
As the talks proceed, the UK will be watching whether a high-profile visit can deliver tangible economic gains while protecting national security and speaking up on human rights.
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