Kier Starmer first Prime Minister to arrive in China since 2018

Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit to China, saying the trip will “bring benefits for people back at home” as he seeks to rebuild economic ties with the world’s second-largest economy. 

The Prime Minister said that he wants a “comprehensive and consistent approach to China” as he began his first visit to the country as prime minister, describing the trip as a key moment in setting out the government’s long-term approach to relations with Beijing. 

While travelling to China by plane earlier, Starmer spoke on the recent fatal shootings by Federal Agents in Minnesota.

When speaking to reporters he described the incidents as being “obviously concerning,” but also mentioned that he is “not going to give a running commentary on what’s happening in other countries.”

Starmer is expected to hold talks with senior Chinese officials during the visit, including a planned meeting with President Xi Jinping, as part of efforts to develop trade and investment links between the two countries.  

He labelled it is a ‘historic trip’, with it being the first time a UK prime minister has visited the country since 2018.  

According to BBC’s China correspondent, Laura Bicker, “China believes the UK is too close to the US and simply follows Washington when it comes to foreign policy.”  

She has highlighted how important the visit will be for Beijing’s global optics.

The UK government team will be using burner phones and notebooks due to security fears.  

The itinerary of Starmer’s trip will consist of Beijing, Shanghai and then Tokyo.  

Researcher Dr Yu Jie for policy institute Chatham House, says “China sees UK as stable partner in face of US disruption”.  

Economically, she says, China’s investment into the UK is ‘very minimal’, at only about 0.7% of the direct foreign investment into the UK.

She says that China may see the UK as a stable partner that can bring the “order and organisation” amid “disruption” of US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy.

Further details are expected to come as the Prime Minister continues the talks over the next few days.