January 29, 2026, 10:08January 29, 2026, 10:08
Amid growing tensions between long-time US allies and the government in Washington, Great Britain is also seeking closer ties with China.
Great Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and China’s President Xi Jinping.Image: keystone
Keir Starmer was the first British head of government in eight years to be welcomed to the People’s Republic on Thursday and met state and party leader Xi Jinping. China is a “central player on the global stage” and it is “crucial that we build a more mature relationship,” Starmer said at the meeting, according to media reports. It has been “too long” since a British Prime Minister visited China.
Starmer speaks of a “historic visit”
Chinese state media placed the Briton’s trip in the context of a general rapprochement between Western countries and China in a “turbulent world”. Starmer himself emphasized the economic benefits of good cooperation between the two countries. International developments have had a direct impact on people’s everyday lives, not just in the UK – from prices in supermarkets to general feelings of security.
Starmer visits the Forbidden City.Image: keystone
After his election victory, he promised to open the United Kingdom more to the outside world again, said Starmer. And the trip to China is obviously intended to contribute to this. At a meeting with Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress, Starmer spoke of a “historic visit”.
Before his arrival in Beijing, he emphasized that as head of government he did not want to choose between China and other partners, but rather wanted to maintain a wide range of contacts. «I am often asked to simply choose a country. “I won’t do that,” Starmer told the Bloomberg news agency.
According to Chinese officials, Xi said China is ready to develop a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership with Britain. He is confident that the visit will be a success and both countries will be able to open a new chapter in Sino-British relations.
Western heads of government are lining up in Beijing
Canada had also not sent a head of government to Beijing for years before it recently held another high-level meeting at which new trade agreements were made. The heads of government of Ireland and Finland were also in China for talks in January. In December, French President Emmanuel Macron also called for more stable relations with Beijing during a visit.
Given Trump’s foreign policy, which is strictly based on the motto “America First” and his aggressive customs policy, many traditional allies have more or less distanced themselves from the government in Washington. Many countries are discussing how to become more economically and militarily independent of the United States in unpredictable times – without alienating the powerful US President. (dab/sda/dpa)