Starmer to pledge consistent partnership with China to make UK ‘better off’

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to reset Britain’s relationship with China by pledging a more consistent and pragmatic partnership aimed at boosting economic growth and making the UK economy “better off,” Downing Street said on Tuesday. Starmer arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for an official visit from January 28 to 31, accompanied by a delegation of nearly 60 representatives from British business, sport and cultural organizations, including HSBC, GSK, Jaguar Land Rover and the National Theatre. Describing China as one of the world’s most consequential powers and the UK’s third-largest trading partner, Starmer said engagement with Beijing was firmly in Britain’s national interest after years of what he called policy inconsistency. The visit follows the 2025 Economic and Financial Dialogue, which delivered £600 million in immediate benefits, and the first UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission since 2018. Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle and Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby are also part of the trip, with Kyle expressing support for expanding trade across sectors such as financial services, advanced manufacturing and the energy transition. China’s Foreign Ministry said it was ready to use the visit to strengthen political trust, deepen practical cooperation and promote stable and healthy development in bilateral relations.

Credit : CGTN