BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing on Thursday, marking a key moment in ongoing efforts by both countries to recalibrate bilateral relations with a strong emphasis on economic cooperation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday called for a fresh and more constructive phase in relations with China, telling President Xi Jinping he wanted to develop a “sophisticated relationship” focused on boosting economic growth and security after years of strained ties.
On the key day of his four-day visit the first by a British prime minister since 2018 Starmer met Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where the two leaders held talks before sharing lunch.
Starmer, whose centre-left Labour government has struggled to deliver the economic growth it promised, has made improving ties with the world’s second-largest economy a priority, despite ongoing concerns over espionage and human rights.
“China is a vital player on the global stage, and it’s vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship where we can identify opportunities to collaborate, but of course, also allow a meaningful dialogue on areas where we disagree,” Starmer told Xi at the start of their meeting.
Xi said relations between the two countries had experienced “twists and turns” that benefited neither side, adding that China was willing to work towards a long-term strategic partnership with Britain.
“I made the promise 18 months ago, when we were elected into government, that I would make Britain face outwards again,” Starmer told Xi.
“Because, as we all know, events abroad affect everything that happens back in our home countries, to prices on the supermarket shelves to how secure we feel.”
In a sign of closer cooperation, Downing Street said Starmer and Xi would announce a joint initiative to combat migrant-smuggling networks. The agreement aims to curb the use of Chinese-made engines in small boats used to transport migrants across Europe to seek asylum.
Under the deal, British and Chinese authorities will share intelligence to identify smuggling supply chains and work with Chinese manufacturers to prevent legitimate businesses from being exploited by organised crime, Downing Street said.
“It was time for a ‘mature’ relationship with China,” Starmer told a business delegation shortly after arriving on Wednesday.
Later, he dined at a Beijing restaurant renowned for its mushroom-based cuisine, which previously hosted former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during her 2023 visit. A video shared on Weibo showed Starmer chatting with staff, posing for photographs, and discussing how to pronounce the Chinese phrase for thank you “xie xie.”
