UK and China Seek Deeper Ties as Prime Minister Starmer Meets Xi in Beijing

In a landmark diplomatic engagement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on January 29, 2026, spotlighting a renewed push to strengthen economic and strategic ties between the United Kingdom and China – the world’s second-largest economy. The visit, the first by a British prime minister in eight years, comes at a moment of shifting global alliances and illustrates how major economies are recalibrating their relationships amid geopolitical turbulence.

At the Great Hall of the People, Starmer and Xi held an extensive bilateral discussion focused on forging a “more sophisticated relationship” – one that balances cooperation on economic growth, security, and global stability with candid dialogue on areas of disagreement. “China is a vital player on the global stage,” Starmer told Xi, emphasising that both countries can benefit from expanded engagement on trade, climate change, and cross-border challenges.