Keir Starmer has become the first UK prime minister to visit China in eight years, holding talks with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. The meeting, which lasted around 40 minutes, is part of Starmer’s effort to bring “stability and clarity” to bilateral relations after years of inconsistency under the previous Conservative government.
Starmer aims to strengthen economic ties with China, the world’s second-largest economy and the UK’s third-largest trading partner, with annual exports of £45 billion. The visit comes amid uncertainty over the reliability of the US alliance and rising trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Downing Street said Starmer remains “clear-eyed” about national security threats from China, with “guardrails” in place to counter espionage. The prime minister also plans to raise human rights issues, including the case of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai. The government has faced criticism from Conservative opponents, who accuse China of attempting to recruit informants in parliament and harass activists in the UK.
During the visit, Starmer is expected to sign an agreement with Chinese authorities to tackle the supply of boat parts used by people-smugglers bringing migrants to the UK via small boats. The deal will involve intelligence-sharing on illegal exports and cooperation against serious organised crime, including fentanyl trafficking.
Starmer gave President Xi a football used in a recent match between Manchester United and Arsenal, reflecting Xi’s support for Manchester United. The two leaders had previously met at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in late 2024.
