CGTN has published an article concerning UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China, emphasizing that amidst escalating global uncertainty, both Beijing and London are prioritizing long-term stability, practical collaboration, and shared interests in global governance and economic expansion.
BEIJING, Jan. 29, 2026 — Chinese President Xi Jinping convened with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing on Thursday, marking the first visit by a UK prime minister to China in eight years. Both leaders underscored the importance of fostering a consistent, long-term, and comprehensive strategic partnership.
President Xi urged both nations to adopt a broader historical perspective, transcend their differences, and uphold mutual respect to translate the promising potential for cooperation into tangible achievements that benefit their respective populations and the world.
Prime Minister Starmer acknowledged the significant hiatus in high-level exchanges, stating it had been “too long” since a British prime minister last visited China. Upon his arrival in Beijing, he characterized the trip in practical terms, telling reporters, “It is in our national interest to engage with China. There are huge opportunities to be had.”
As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major global economies, China and the UK share crucial interests in advancing economic growth, supporting social development, and contributing to global stability.
Seeking cooperation in an uncertain world
Analysts suggest that Starmer’s visit reflects a wider European trend of countries increasingly pursuing pragmatic engagement with China amidst growing global uncertainty.
Recent months have seen high-level visits to China by leaders from France, Ireland, and Finland. A CGTN poll indicated that 85.2 percent of respondents believe these frequent visits signify a broad consensus on achieving equitable and orderly multipolarity, alongside inclusive and beneficial globalization.
Wang Zhanpeng, director of the UK Studies Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University, observed that the unpredictable policies, unilateralism, and assertive actions of the Trump administration have presented challenges for Europe. He stated that European leaders’ visits demonstrate a recognition that China’s development neither poses a challenge nor a threat to Europe. “Starmer’s visit could further encourage others to move beyond the dilemma of choosing sides and support a more balanced, multipolar global order,” he added.
Vince Cable, former UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, echoed this sentiment, telling CGTN, “The erratic behavior of the Trump administration is causing many Western countries, not just the UK, to balance their relationships in a different way.”
President Xi also noted that the international order has been significantly impacted for some time. He emphasized that international law can only be truly effective when all nations, particularly major powers, adhere to it. “China and the UK, as supporters of multilateralism and free trade, should jointly advocate and practice genuine multilateralism, fostering a fairer and more equitable global governance system, building an orderly multipolar world and promoting inclusive globalization,” he stated.
Prime Minister Starmer added that China plays a pivotal role in international affairs and expressed the UK’s willingness to cooperate on challenges such as climate change to help maintain global stability.
Turning stability into economic benefits
During their meeting, President Xi described the core of China-UK economic and trade cooperation as mutually beneficial and win-win.
He suggested that both sides should expand collaboration in education, healthcare, finance, and services, as well as joint research and industrial applications in artificial intelligence (AI), biosciences, renewable energy, and low-carbon technologies. He also called on the UK to provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.
Economic ties remain a fundamental aspect of the bilateral relationship, with China consistently ranking among the UK’s top five trading partners, maintaining annual trade figures in the hundreds of billions of dollars. According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, goods trade reached $103.7 billion in 2025, while services trade is projected to exceed $30 billion, and the cumulative two-way investment stands at nearly $68 billion. UK government data also indicates that China is now the UK’s third-largest trading partner, supporting approximately 370,000 jobs. The CGTN poll further revealed that 85.8 percent of respondents believe China’s extensive market presents a significant opportunity for British businesses.
Prime Minister Starmer led a delegation comprising over 60 representatives from the UK’s business and cultural sectors, underscoring the practical economic implications of the visit. Speaking during the meeting, he stated that the UK is prepared to maintain high-level exchanges and deepen cooperation in trade, investment, finance, and environmental protection, with the objective of supporting growth and delivering tangible benefits to the citizens of both countries.
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