The UK Prime Minister Intends to Build a Consistent Partnership with China
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his intention to build a strategic and consistent partnership with China focused on the United Kingdom’s national interests and improving citizens’ prosperity. This was reported by CCTV Plus.
The British prime minister’s visit to China is taking place with a delegation of nearly 60 representatives from British business, sports, and cultural sectors. During the trip, Keir Starmer will visit Beijing and Shanghai, where he will hold meetings with Chinese leaders and business representatives.
According to the prime minister, China is the world’s second-largest economy and the UK’s third-largest trading partner, supporting around 370,000 jobs in the country. Under these conditions, engagement with Beijing is of key importance for the British economy and its citizens.
Keir Starmer stressed that the new partnership should reflect modern realities and be pragmatic and stable, eliminating the long-standing inconsistency that characterized relations under previous governments. At the same time, the UK intends to maintain a “clear-eyed and realistic approach,” combining economic cooperation with strict national security safeguards.
“China matters to the United Kingdom. Consistent and strategic relations are in our national interest, even where disagreements remain on certain issues,” the prime minister said, emphasizing the importance of open and honest dialogue.
Talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang are planned as part of the visit, with trade, investment, and national security on the agenda. After that, Keir Starmer will travel to Shanghai to take part in events involving British and Chinese companies.
The accompanying delegation includes representatives of organizations such as HSBC, GSK, Jaguar Land Rover, and the UK National Theatre, as well as leading companies from the financial, creative, and scientific sectors. The visit is expected to promote expanded cooperation in financial services, creative industries, and biomedicine.
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle and Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby are also taking part in the trip. The visit follows the 2025 Economic and Financial Dialogue, which delivered about £600 million in direct economic benefits and resumed the work of the UK–China Joint Economic and Trade Commission for the first time since 2018.
After completing the visit to China, the UK prime minister will travel to Tokyo to meet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. UK–Japan economic partnership exceeds £100 billion and supports around 200,000 jobs in the United Kingdom.
