British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for an official visit to China that will run through Saturday, marking the first trip by a UK prime minister to the country in eight years.
Starmer’s visit, at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, will include meetings with China’s top leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Accompanied by a large delegation of nearly 60 representatives from British business, cultural and institutional sectors, Starmer is seeking to deepen economic ties and cooperation between the United Kingdom and China, which is the UK’s third-largest trading partner in Europe and its largest trading partner in Asia.
Ahead of the visit, Starmer emphasised the importance of a “comprehensive and consistent” approach to China, arguing that balanced engagement would benefit the UK economically while managing differences on security and other sensitive issues.
The trip takes place against a complex geopolitical backdrop, with concerns in London over national security, human rights and Beijing’s role on issues such as Hong Kong and global espionage persisting alongside efforts to expand trade and investment links.
Starmer is also expected to discuss broader international cooperation, including British business opportunities in China and potential avenues for strengthening bilateral exchanges, as well as stopping briefly in Japan later in the week to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.