British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, signaling a major diplomatic and economic reset between the United Kingdom and China after years of strained relations.
The meeting, held at the Great Hall of the People, marked the first visit by a British prime minister to China since 2018 and reflects a strategic push by Starmer’s Labour government to rebuild economic links with the world’s second-largest economy amid slowing growth at home.
Starmer was welcomed by Xi for talks expected to last about 40 minutes, followed by a working lunch. He is also scheduled to meet Premier Li Qiang later in the day as part of his four-day visit to China.
Starmer has made improving relations with Beijing a core foreign policy priority, viewing stronger trade and investment ties as a potential driver of economic growth for the UK.
“China is a vital player on the global stage, and it is vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship,” Starmer told Xi at the opening of their meeting, according to officials present at the talks.
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Xi responded by acknowledging years of tensions between the two countries, saying the relationship had gone through “twists and turns” that benefited neither side. He added that China is ready to pursue a long-term strategic partnership with Britain based on stability and cooperation.
Chinese state media also framed the visit as a turning point. In an editorial published Wednesday, the state-run Xinhua news agency said China views the relationship as being at a “pivotal moment” and is ready to “enhance political mutual trust” and deepen practical cooperation with the UK.
Analysts expect the visit to produce concrete economic agreements aimed at showcasing improved relations.
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Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese studies at King’s College London, said both governments want the visit to project stability and success. “This must look like it’s been a success,” he said, adding that neither side is seeking a meeting focused on disputes but rather on deliverables that demonstrate progress.
Starmer’s trip comes as Western governments intensify diplomatic engagement with Beijing, partly to hedge against growing unpredictability in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
The UK visit follows Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent trip to Beijing, where Canada signed an economic agreement aimed at dismantling trade barriers — a move that drew criticism from Washington, according to Reuters.
UK-China relations deteriorated sharply under previous Conservative governments, with London restricting Chinese investment over national security concerns and voicing strong criticism over political developments in Hong Kong.
Starmer’s government has adopted a new engagement strategy, describing its China policy as focused on building a more “mature” and pragmatic relationship that balances economic cooperation with national security interests.
The visit also comes amid growing transatlantic tensions, including recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that have unsettled European allies, adding urgency to efforts by European leaders to diversify diplomatic and economic partnerships.
As meetings continue in Beijing, both governments are positioning the visit as the start of a longer-term reset — one focused less on confrontation and more on structured cooperation, economic stability, and strategic dialogue.
