Starmer holds high-stakes talks with Xi in Beijing to repair Britain–China relations

On January 29, 2026, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in a highly anticipated bid to reset and deepen relations between the United Kingdom and China after years of diplomatic tension, marking the first visit by a UK prime minister to China since 2018. Starmer holds high-stakes talks with Xi in Beijing to repair Britain–China relations Starmer’s four-day visit, which began on January 28 with meetings with Premier Li Qiang and China’s top legislator Zhao Leji, underscores a shift toward engagement and economic cooperation. The prime minister

On January 29, 2026, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in a highly anticipated bid to reset and deepen relations between the United Kingdom and China after years of diplomatic tension, marking the first visit by a UK prime minister to China since 2018.

Starmer holds high-stakes talks with Xi in Beijing to repair Britain–China relations

Starmer’s four-day visit, which began on January 28 with meetings with Premier Li Qiang and China’s top legislator Zhao Leji, underscores a shift toward engagement and economic cooperation. The prime minister, accompanied by a large delegation of British business leaders, said he wants “a more mature and sophisticated relationship” with China that benefits both economies. Officials are expected to announce cooperation on combating people-smuggling networks and enhanced intelligence sharing. Starmer also signalled he would raise human rights concerns, including the case of British citizen Jimmy Lai, while stressing that economic partnerships would not come at the expense of security or values.

The meeting comes amid broader global shifts, including friction between the UK and its traditional ally the United States, reflecting London’s desire to diversify diplomatic and trade ties.