UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Visit to China (2026)

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer’s Visit to China (2026), conducted from 28 to 31 January 2026, is the first official visit by a British prime minister to China in eight years. The visit was organized with the aim of revitalizing economic, diplomatic and cultural relations between the two countries. During the program, Prime Minister Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji.

Beginning of the Visit and Composition of the Delegation

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, 28 January 2026. Starmer’s visit will last until Saturday, 31 January 2026. Upon arrival in the capital, Starmer was received by Chinese officials. Following the Beijing leg of the visit, various economic and commercial meetings are planned in Shanghai.

Starmer traveled to China with a delegation of more than 50 representatives from British companies and cultural institutions. Among those in the delegation are executives from HSBC, GSK, AstraZeneca, Jaguar Land Rover, Standard Chartered, Airbus, Brompton Bicycles, British Airways, Natural History Museum, Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre and Science Museum Group.

At the government level, Secretary of State for Business Peter Kyle and Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Economic Secretary Lucy Rigby accompanied the Prime Minister. In a statement prior to the visit, Kyle said, “We want to grow trade between us. Areas where the United Kingdom is strong, from financial services to advanced manufacturing and global energy transition, are increasingly overlapping with China’s rapidly developing economy.”

Lucy Rigby highlighted the importance of the visit for financial services, stating, “There are real opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation with China; these partnerships will provide employment for workers and growth for businesses across the country.”

The delegation also includes prominent business figures such as AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, GSK Chairman Sir Jonathan Symonds, HSBC Group Chairman Brendan Nelson, Standard Chartered CEO William Winters and Airbus Chief Advisor John Harrison.

At the opening meeting in Beijing, Starmer addressed British business representatives, saying, “It is said that eight days in politics is a long time. Think of eight years; no British prime minister has set foot on Chinese soil for eight years. You are writing history with this delegation.”

Cultural representatives in the delegation include Natural History Museum Director Doug Gurr and British Airways Commercial Director Colm Lacy. Gurr, emphasizing the goal of expanding museum collaboration, said, “I am looking forward to strengthening our existing ties with our museum partners in China and developing new opportunities for cooperation in research, collections and knowledge sharing.”

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun noted that the size of Starmer’s delegation represents “a positive step toward strengthening mutual trust, developing bilateral relations and advancing mutually beneficial cooperation.”

Diplomatic and Political Discussions

Meeting with Xi Jinping

The bilateral meeting between Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place on the morning of 29 January 2026 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and twenty minutes.

In his opening remarks, Xi Jinping referred to relations between the two countries, saying, “China-UK relations have experienced ups and downs that have not served the interests of our two nations.” Xi added, “China is ready to develop a long-term and stable strategic partnership with the United Kingdom. This will benefit the people of both countries.”

Xi further stated, “Engagement with China is an inevitable matter, and I express my gratitude for it. Good things usually require time and effort. If something serves the fundamental interests of our countries and peoples, we must adopt a long-term perspective.” In his speech, Xi Jinping also emphasized China’s international stance with the words: “No matter how much China develops, it will never pose a threat to other countries.”

Keir Starmer, in his remarks, described China as “a vital actor on the global stage,” saying, “It has been a very long time since a British prime minister visited this country. China is a vital actor on the global stage, and cultivating a more nuanced relationship is of vital importance.”

Starmer framed the visit in terms of benefits to the British public, stating, “If I am here today, it is because the British people are in my mind. When we were elected to government, I promised to make Britain outward-looking again. As we all know, developments abroad affect everything at home.”

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed cooperation in the areas of trade, education, healthcare, artificial intelligence and new energy. Xi Jinping announced that China would “actively consider” introducing a unilateral visa-free entry scheme for British citizens.

The discussions also touched upon the issues of Taiwan and Hong Kong. According to China’s official statement, “The United Kingdom’s policy on Taiwan has not changed, and the United Kingdom views Hong Kong as a unique and important bridge between the two countries.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Xi Jinping said, “As long as we embrace a broad perspective, rise above our differences and show mutual respect, we will prove that we can pass history’s test.”

National Security Talks

China’s senior diplomat Wang Yi met with Prime Minister Starmer’s national security advisor Jonathan Powell. The two sides affirmed their shared responsibility as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council for global peace and development.

Wang Yi said, “China and the United Kingdom, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, must strengthen communication and coordination to safeguard international peace and development.”

Economic, Commercial and Cultural Dimensions

On 29 January 2026, following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer announced at a press conference that progress had been made in the areas of trade, travel and combating human trafficking. Starmer said, “The talks have advanced progress on reducing whisky tariffs and the possibility of visa-free travel for British visitors to China. However, there is no agreement yet on any of these issues—only progress.”

Trade between the United Kingdom and China has increased in recent years, but as of 2025, the United Kingdom recorded a £42 billion trade deficit with China. The UK’s imports from China are dominated by electronic products, textiles and office machinery, while its exports to China are led by automobiles, pharmaceuticals and crude oil.

Border Security Minister Alex Norris of the UK Home Office, in a statement to the BBC on the same day, confirmed that the two countries would cooperate to prevent the trade of Chinese-made boat engines used in illegal migration across the Channel. Norris said, “The government wants UK intelligence services to work with China to stop this illegal activity, and we are currently in negotiations on this matter.”

In another dimension of economic engagement, both sides discussed opportunities for investment and cooperation in the fields of green energy, finance, healthcare and creative industries. In remarks following the talks, Starmer said, “Assessing the opportunities offered by close ties with China will help reduce the cost of living in the United Kingdom.”

On the cultural front, on the same day Starmer visited the Forbidden City in Beijing. The visit served as a symbolic gesture of diplomatic engagement. According to BBC reporting on 29 January, Starmer presented Xi Jinping with a football used in the recent Manchester United vs Arsenal match during the tour.

On the first day of the visit, Natural History Museum Director Doug Gurr and British Airways Commercial Director Colm Lacy stated they were seeking new opportunities for cultural and commercial collaboration between the two countries. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun, in a statement on 28 January 2026, said these engagements were aimed at “enhancing political mutual trust with the United Kingdom and deepening practical cooperation.”

Human Rights, Hong Kong and International Issues

On 29 January 2026, following his meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer stated that he had raised the issues of human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Starmer said, “We raised these issues as expected. One purpose of engagement is not only to assess existing opportunities but also to have mature discussions on areas where we disagree.” Starmer also noted in the same statement that the talks had taken place in “a respectful atmosphere,” adding, “Yes, we had a respectful discussion on these matters.”

Prior to the meeting, British media reported that the case of Jimmy Lai would also be raised. The Hong Kong-based media tycoon Lai has been in detention since 2020 and was convicted in December 2025 on charges of colluding with foreign forces. According to the BBC, Starmer raised this case during his discussions with Chinese officials.

Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, told the BBC on 29 January that the visit carried the character of a “test” for UK-China relations, saying, “Whether my father is released is the ultimate test. This is a very clear indication of how China views our relationship.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his remarks on human rights and Hong Kong, reiterated China’s foreign policy stance with the words: “No matter how much China develops, it will never pose a threat to other countries.”

The issue of Taiwan was also raised during the meeting. China’s official statement reiterated, “The United Kingdom’s policy on Taiwan has not changed, and the United Kingdom views Hong Kong as a unique and important bridge between the two countries.”

Other items on the international agenda included the war in Ukraine and climate change. Prior to the meeting, Starmer stated that these topics would be discussed, saying, “We will talk about global stability, growth and climate change.” It was also reported that the two countries agreed to enhance intelligence sharing on the issues of illegal migration and human trafficking.

Ongoing Program and Planned Events of the Visit

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer’s visit to China began in Beijing on 28 January 2026 and is scheduled to last until 31 January. The first two days of the visit have been dedicated to diplomatic and economic engagements. On 29 January, Starmer held meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji.

That same evening, he is scheduled to attend a cultural reception and official dinner in Beijing. On the third day of the visit, meetings with local officials and business representatives will be held in Shanghai. According to The Standard, Starmer will meet with Chinese investors and corporate executives there.

It has been reported that preparations are underway for various agreements to be signed during the visit in the areas of economic cooperation and cultural exchange. At the conclusion of the planned agenda, Starmer is expected to continue his engagements in Shanghai by attending economic forums and holding meetings on Chinese companies’ investments in the United Kingdom.