Summary
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss strengthening economic ties and cooperation. They aimed to find common ground despite existing disagreements and criticism over China’s human rights record. Starmer is accompanied by a UK business delegation and plans to discuss issues like law enforcement collaboration.
Key Facts
- Keir Starmer is the first UK Prime Minister to visit China in eight years.
- The meeting took place in Beijing, and the discussions were about 40 minutes long.
- Strengthening economic cooperation was one of the top agenda items.
- UK businesses like HSBC and British Airways are part of Starmer's delegation.
- China was the UK’s fourth-largest trading partner in 2025, with $137 billion in trade.
- Relations between the UK and China have been tense due to Hong Kong's crackdown.
- Starmer and Xi also discussed reducing the trafficking of undocumented immigrants.
- President Trump’s tariff war with China has strained UK-China relations.
