China "Historic visit": Xi receives Starmer in Beijing
Amid growing tensions between long-standing US allies and the government in Washington, the UK is also seeking closer ties with China.
29.01.2026, 09:23
SDA
Keir Starmer became the first British head of government in eight years to be received in the People's Republic on Thursday, where he met with head of state and party leader Xi Jinping. China is a "key 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 had been "too long" since a British Prime Minister had visited China.
Starmer speaks of "historic visit"
Chinese state media placed the British Prime Minister's trip in the context of a general rapprochement between Western countries and China in a "turbulent world". Starmer himself emphasized the economic advantages of good cooperation between the two countries. International developments not only had a direct impact on people's everyday lives in the UK - from supermarket prices to a general sense of security.
After his election victory, he had promised to open up the UK more to the outside world again, said Starmer. And the trip to China is clearly 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 had emphasized that, as head of government, he did not want to choose between China and other partners, but rather maintain a wide range of contacts. "I am often asked to simply choose a country. I don't do that," Starmer told the Bloomberg news agency.
According to official Chinese sources, Xi stated that China is willing to develop a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership with the UK. He was convinced that the visit would be a success and that both countries could open a new chapter in Sino-British relations.
Western heads of government queue up in Beijing
Canada had also not sent a head of government to Beijing for years before a high-level meeting took place again recently, at which new trade agreements were also reached. The heads of government of Ireland and Finland also visited China for talks in January. In December, French President Emmanuel Macron also called for more stable relations with Beijing during a visit.
In view of Trump's strict "America First" foreign policy and his aggressive tariff 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.
