Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has secured several agreements during his visit to China, including a deal to share intelligence aimed at disrupting people-smuggling gangs operating small boat crossings in the English Channel. The agreement, signed with President Xi Jinping, will see the two countries pool information to target the supply chain of boats and engines, many of which are manufactured in China.
According to government estimates, more than half of all small boat engines used in Channel crossings last year were made in China, with other parts sourced there. The cooperation will also focus on cracking down on opioid drug-smuggling gangs. Starmer said the deal would “help us cut off the supply of boats at source – stopping crossings before lives are put at risk and restoring control to our borders”.
Other agreements include visa-free travel for Britons visiting China for up to 30 days, bringing the UK in line with 50 other countries. The two nations also agreed to a feasibility study on a potential free trade deal for services, which could provide clearer rules for UK firms. Currently, the UK exports £13bn worth of services to China annually.
Several memorandums of understanding were signed to boost cooperation in sectors such as product standards, health, sports industries, technical education, food safety, and animal and plant quarantine. Business leaders on the trip welcomed the progress, with Melissa Geiger of KPMG UK saying the further opening of the market would unlock significant opportunities and create jobs.
The agreements mark a thaw in UK-China economic relations, following the first economic summit since 2018 last year. Starmer noted that British businesses had been calling for clearer rules and better market access in China. The UK said the deals would make it easier for firms to find partners and open up markets, including through recognition of UK professionals' qualifications.
