U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid an official visit to China for the first time in eight years, moving to improve China-U.K. relations. As rifts deepen between the United States and European countries, the United Kingdom stressed that it would "not take sides," signaling its intent to seek an economic breakthrough through practical cooperation with China. China, for its part, responded by saying the visit should not only open a new pathway for cooperation but also establish a win-win framework between the two countries.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency and Bloomberg on the 28th, Starmer will stay in China for four days and three nights from that day through the 31st. In Beijing, Starmer will hold a summit with President Xi Jinping and meet with Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China. He is then scheduled to travel to Shanghai.
A large economic delegation composed of officials from more than 50 major British companies and institutions, as well as government officials, is accompanying the trip. The group includes major manufacturers such as Airbus, AstraZeneca, Brompton, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover), and McLaren Automotive, as well as banks including HSBC Group, Standard Chartered, and Barclays.
Both sides signaled expectations for "practical cooperation" even before Starmer's official schedule began. In an interview with Bloomberg before departure, Starmer said, "I am often asked to choose one country, but I do not," making clear he would not be forced to choose between the United States and China. Starmer emphasized that his goal is to expand export opportunities to China for British industry, and that this is no different whether it is the U.S. or China. Unlike the U.S., which is less predictable, China conducts negotiations in a long-term, systematic way, creating an environment in which the U.K. expects to expand cooperation centered on finance, manufacturing, and services.
Britain's tilt toward China is also tied to its own economic situation. Amid inflation and job insecurity, British consumers are responding not only to low-cost Chinese products but also to mid- to high-priced items such as electric vehicles and smartphones. Unlike the European Union (EU), the U.K. does not impose a tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, allowing Chinese companies to expand their market presence quickly. BYD's sales in the U.K. exceeded 50,000 last year, nearly five times higher, surpassing Tesla and BMW Mini, whose sales fell over the same period. SAIC Motor's MG also sold more than 85,000 units in the U.K. last year, overtaking Land Rover and approaching Toyota's sales.
Bloomberg said, "It's not just about cars. Smartphones from Xiaomi, once sanctioned in the United States on national security grounds, are also being chosen by consumers in the U.K. There is no stigma against Chinese products in the U.K.," adding, "Trade between the U.K. and China has risen sharply over the past decade, and China is widening the U.K.'s trade deficit due to increased imports of mobile phones, computers, and cars. There is even a possibility that the U.K. will overtake Germany to become Europe's largest importer."
China's state-run Global Times assessed in an editorial that Starmer's visit to China is "a rational choice based on the U.K.'s national interests." The Global Times said, "As an ally that maintains a 'special relationship' with the United States, this stance by the U.K. may seem unexpected to some, but it is in fact very natural," adding, "China-U.K. relations have not been friendly for years, and Western countries are seeking greater predictability in their external relations amid U.S.-driven uncertainty."
It continued, "Improvement in China-U.K. relations will benefit both countries. Of course, China and the U.K. do not agree on every issue, but it is entirely possible to seek solutions through rational dialogue under the principles of mutual respect and practical cooperation." It added, "The U.K. has both the ability and the right to maintain a constructive and friendly relationship. This is a mature attitude that is responsible to national interests," and said, "China is by no means a security threat to the U.K. or an obstacle to its development. We hope this visit will not only open new breakthroughs in cooperation across various fields, but also serve as an opportunity to establish a win-win framework for the long-term development of China-U.K. relations."