Tuesday 27/January/2026 – 04:45 AM
British Prime Minister Keir heads StarmerToday, to China, in the first official visit by a British Prime Minister since 2018, confirming the cautious rapprochement between the two parties, especially on the economic level, despite the continuing controversial issues.
Starmer’s tour includes China and Japan, and the visit comes at a time when China is presenting itself as a reliable partner adhering to the global order, in the face of US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable moves that amount to hostility towards his country’s traditional allies, including the United Kingdom.
The third prominent Western official to visit China
Stamer will be the third prominent Western official to visit China in recent times, after President Xi Jinping received French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Since assuming power in July 2024, Starmer has been working to advance relations with China in an effort to seize the economic opportunities that the Asian giant can offer to the British economy, which is suffering from a recession.
Finance Minister Rachel Reeves previously visited China a year ago.
