Starmer arrives in Beijing for three day visit

Sir Keir Starmer has landed in Beijing for a visit to China, as he looks to reset relations while insisting national security will not be compromised. It is the first visit by a British prime minister since 2018.

The three-day trip brings the UK leader face to face with President Xi Jinping and other senior figures, alongside a large delegation of more than 50 business, cultural and sporting representatives. Ministers say the aim of the visit is to rebuild dialogue with the world’s second-largest economy and open up new opportunities for British firms after years of strained connections.

Speaking before and during the journey to Beijing, Starmer argued that engagement with Beijing is unavoidable, even during serious disagreements. “For years, our approach to China has been dogged by inconsistency – blowing hot and cold, from Golden Age to Ice Age. But like it or not, China matters for the UK,” he said. He added that closer cooperation would not come at the expense of safety, stressing: “That does not mean turning a blind eye to the challenges they pose – but engaging even where we disagree.”

On the plane, Starmer pointed to the size of the delegation as evidence of potential gains, telling reporters: “The evidence there are opportunities is the fact that we’ve got so many CEOs with us on this flight, that we’ve got 60 coming out to explore those opportunities.”

Downing Street said the prime minister would keep “guardrails” firmly in place, making it clear that “we will not trade economic co-operation for our national security.” Officials said he would raise areas of disagreement through what they called frank and open dialogue.

Starmer has been cautious about detailing exactly what he will raise in private talks, but said refusing to engage would be counterproductive. “It doesn't make sense to stick our head in the ground and bury it in the sand when it comes to China, it's in our interests to engage,” he said. “It's going to be a really important trip for us and we'll make some real progress.”

The visit comes against a backdrop of deep concern in the UK about Chinese espionage and human rights. MI5 has previously warned of attempts to target politicians, and critics have urged Starmer to confront Beijing over the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong. Some MPs had called for the trip to be cancelled altogether.

China, for its part, has signalled a desire to steady the relationship. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang wrote that both sides should “seek common ground while managing differences,” as Beijing looks to present itself as a stable partner at a time of global uncertainty.

Trade is central to the agenda. China is still one of the UK’s biggest trading partners, with Britain running a deficit in goods but a surplus in services. Business groups say recent Chinese moves to boost domestic consumption and open up parts of its services sector could benefit UK companies in areas such as finance, healthcare and consulting.

The diplomatic push also reflects wider global tensions, particularly uncertainty around the United States under President Donald Trump. Starmer rejected the idea that Britain must pick sides, saying: “I’m often invited to simply choose between countries. I don’t do that.” He underlined the UK’s close ties with Washington, while arguing that strengthening links with China does not undermine that relationship.

After meetings in Beijing, the prime minister will travel on to Shanghai for talks with local business leaders, as Labour seeks to show it can deliver economic growth while navigating an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.