Sir Keir Starmer has brushed aside Donald Trump's warning that it is 'very dangerous' for the UK to do business with China, as the Prime Minister returned from a landmark visit to Beijing with pledges of improved market access and investment deals.
The US president made the comments hours after Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping for three-hour talks at the Great Hall of the People, the first visit by a British prime minister to China in eight years. Starmer said the relationship was now in a 'good, strong place' and hailed progress on opening up opportunities for UK jobs and wealth creation.
Asked about Trump's remarks, Starmer told Sky News: 'I don't think it's wise for the United Kingdom to stick its head in the sand. China is the second biggest economy in the world.' Trade minister Chris Bryant added that Trump was 'wrong', noting the US president himself has called President Xi a friend and is due to visit China in April.
The trip comes amid Trump's on-off tariff threats and his pledge to seize Greenland, which have rattled US allies. Before departing, Starmer had insisted Britain would not have to choose between the US and China. However, US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick played down the prospects of Starmer's efforts, saying 'good luck if the British are trying to export to China'.
The UK prime minister later travelled to Shanghai before heading to Tokyo for a working dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Chris Torrens, chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China, described the visit as 'successful', telling the BBC: 'It makes sense for the UK to be looking to China.'
