UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Visits China to Redefine Bilateral Relations

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China, the first by a British leader since 2018, signals a mutual desire to move past recent tensions and redefine bilateral relations. Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during the trip, which yielded major economic deals, including a $15 billion investment by AstraZeneca in China and the entry of Octopus Energy into the Chinese market.

The visit comes as UK-China relations had deteriorated following Hong Kong protests and Beijing’s imposition of a national security law. The Labour government, elected on promises of economic revival post-Brexit, views China—the world’s second-largest economy—as a critical partner. A short-term visa waiver for British citizens was also agreed upon during the talks.

For China, warmer ties with Britain offer an opportunity to project stability amid unpredictable US policies under President Donald Trump’s administration. Meanwhile, the UK seeks to balance its relationships with both Washington and Beijing.