Britain's Starmer seeks fresh start with China, economic wins
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signalled a major shift in the UK’s China policy, telling President Xi Jinping that London wants a 'more sophisticated relationship' with Beijing to support economic growth and global security, as the two leaders held rare high-level talks in Beijing.
Starmer met Xi for around 80 minutes at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, the centrepiece of his four-day China visit and the first by a British prime minister in eight years. The leaders later shared lunch, and Starmer is also scheduled to meet Premier Li Qiang to discuss trade, investment and climate cooperation.
The Labour leader, under pressure to revive Britain’s sluggish economy, has prioritised stabilising ties with China, the world’s second-largest economy, while maintaining a firm stance on sensitive issues such as national security, espionage risks and human rights.
Addressing Xi at the start of the meeting, Starmer said China was a key global player and that Britain wanted to expand cooperation where interests align, while keeping open channels for frank dialogue where differences remain. Xi responded that relations between the two countries had faced 'twists and turns' in recent years and said Beijing was ready to work toward a long-term strategic partnership.
Starmer’s outreach reflects a broader trend among Western leaders seeking to rebalance relations with China amid uncertainty in ties with the United States under President Donald Trump. Recent tariff threats and geopolitical tensions have prompted allies, including Britain, to diversify economic and diplomatic partnerships, with China once again emerging as a central focus.
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