British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will begin a four-day state visit to China on Wednesday, marking the first such trip by a UK leader in eight years. The visit aims to open a new chapter in China-UK relations by enhancing political mutual trust and practical cooperation. Starmer will be accompanied by a large business delegation to Beijing and Shanghai to boost economic ties.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will start a state visit to China on January 28, 2026, the first by a UK leader since Theresa May's trip in 2018. The four-day itinerary includes Beijing and Shanghai, aimed at stabilizing China-UK relations and deepening cooperation.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that China and the UK, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, share common interests in maintaining communication and strengthening cooperation, benefiting both peoples and contributing to world peace and development. He emphasized that China is ready to use this visit to enhance political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation.
Starmer will be accompanied by more than 50 senior executives and institutional representatives from major British companies, covering sectors including finance, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, culture, and creative industries. A Ministry of Commerce spokesperson noted that the large delegation reflects the UK's strong desire to deepen bilateral economic and trade ties. In 2025, bilateral goods trade reached $103.7 billion, two-way investment stock stood at nearly $68 billion, and services trade is expected to exceed $30 billion. The UK is China's third-largest trading partner in Europe, while China is the UK's largest in Asia.
UK Ambassador to China Peter Wilson said the visit aims to increase contacts and establish stabilizing mechanisms, including structured dialogues and commercially meaningful outcomes to support bilateral ties. He stressed: "Two countries like ours not talking to each other is a problem. We don't see everything in the same way—and that is precisely why we need to talk."
China's Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang wrote in The Times that closer collaboration with China will benefit Britain in achieving its development goals. He called for expanded dialogue, coordination, and cooperation in areas including trade and investment, financial services, clean energy, and climate change.
The visit comes amid heightened global uncertainty, with Starmer previously stating that failing to navigate relations with China would be a "dereliction of duty," as China is the world's second-largest economy with significant business opportunities. Analysts view the trip as a pragmatic step toward managing differences through dialogue and seizing economic prospects.
