Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a summit in Beijing and laid the groundwork for repositioning relations between the two countries, which had been strained due to spy incidents. Prime Minister Starmer said "I want a more sophisticated relationship," and President Xi said "China is ready to establish a lasting partnership with Britain."
According to BBC and others, President Xi and Prime Minister Starmer held a summit at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on the 29th for approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes. Prime Minister Starmer said in opening remarks before the talks, "China is a country that plays a very important role on the world stage," and "It is important to build a more sophisticated relationship so that we can not only seek opportunities for cooperation, but also engage in meaningful dialogue in areas where we have differences."
President Xi said, "China-Britain relations have gone through ups and downs that have not aligned with the country's interests," and "China is ready to develop a long-term and sustained strategic partnership with Britain." President Xi expressed gratitude for Prime Minister Starmer's visit to China and said, "If the leaders of both countries can resolve differences, they will be able to withstand the test of history."
This is the first time a British prime minister has visited China in 8 years since Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May in 2018. Prime Minister Starmer's visit to China took place amid tensions between Europe and the United States as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed ownership of Greenland.
China-Britain relations cooled starting in 2019 with the Hong Kong anti-extradition protests and issues of Chinese espionage activities raised by Britain. Britain took the lead in countering China by establishing the AUKUS alliance, a nuclear submarine agreement with Australia and the United States. Prime Minister Starmer of the Labour Party has advocated a pragmatic approach that emphasizes economic cooperation with China, departing from the stance of his predecessors in the Conservative Party since taking office in 2024.
Prime Minister Starmer said in an official statement regarding this visit to China, "Over the years, our relations with China have swung between a golden era and an ice age, lacking consistency. Whether we like it or not, China is an important matter." He also said to reporters upon arriving in Beijing the previous day, "Engaging with China is in our national interest." In an interview with Bloomberg News, he said, "I will ensure (British companies) do not have to choose between the United States and China."
