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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday in the first visit by a British leader to China in nearly a decade, as both countries seek to improve relations strained by espionage allegations, disagreements over Hong Kong and Beijing’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Starmer thanked Xi for hosting his delegation at the Great Hall of the People, where the two countries are expected to sign several agreements.
“It’s with the British people in mind that I am here today,” Starmer said at the start of the meeting.
“I made a promise 18 months ago, when we were elected into government, that I would make Britain face outward again, because, as we all know, events abroad affect everything that happens back in our home countries, from prices on the supermarket shelves to how secure we feel.”
Starmer, who took office in July 2024, said Britain and China “need a long-term, consistent and comprehensive strategic partnership.”
Starmer is seeking to expand opportunities for British companies amid sluggish domestic economic growth. More than 50 top business executives are accompanying him on the trip, alongside leaders of several cultural organisations.
“I look forward to taking our relationship further, focused on delivering growth and security for Britain,” Starmer said. “I think that working together on issues like climate change and global stability during challenging times for the world is precisely what we should be doing.”
He earlier met Zhao Leji, chairman of China’s National People’s Congress.
London-Beijing relations have deteriorated in recent years over concerns about Chinese espionage in Britain, China’s support for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and restrictions on freedoms in Hong Kong, the former British colony that was returned to China in 1997.
Disruption to global trade under US President Donald Trump has made expanding commercial ties more pressing for many governments.
Starmer is the fourth leader of a US ally to visit Beijing this month, following South Korea, Canada and Finland. Germany’s chancellor is expected to visit next month.
The last UK prime minister to visit China was Theresa May in 2018.
Additional sources • AP