British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to visit Beijing next week, accompanied by top executives from major UK companies, in a bid to reset and strengthen economic relations with China after years of strained ties.
The trip, expected to be formally announced as early as Friday, January 23, 2026, marks the first visit by a UK prime minister to China in eight years since Theresa May in 2018. Starmer aims to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and possibly tour other cities like Shanghai, focusing on boosting trade, investment, and cooperation in areas such as financial services and climate change.
A key highlight of the visit will be the revival of a high-level business dialogue once dubbed the "golden era" of UK-China relations. This includes relaunching a revamped "UK-China CEO Council" (or similar forum) featuring prominent executives from both nations. British firms reportedly set to participate include AstraZeneca, BP, HSBC, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Schroders, and Standard Chartered. On the Chinese side, expected participants include Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China Mobile, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, China National Pharmaceutical Group, and BYD.
The move follows recent developments that have paved the way for closer engagement, including the UK government's approval—announced around January 20, 2026—of plans for a massive new Chinese embassy in London, despite longstanding security and espionage concerns from critics. Beijing had reportedly made progress on the embassy conditional for advancing high-level talks, including Starmer's visit.
The initiative comes amid broader global shifts, with Western leaders seeking to balance economic interests with China as U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump introduce new uncertainties and barriers. Earlier in January 2026, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited China with a business delegation and secured £600 million in investment commitments, signaling the Labour government's priority on economic growth through pragmatic diplomacy.
While the visit aims to deliver tangible benefits for UK businesses and living standards, it has sparked debate over potential risks, including human rights concerns, security implications, and alignment with transatlantic allies. Supporters view it as a pragmatic step to attract investment and support post-Brexit recovery, while critics warn of over-reliance on China amid geopolitical tensions.
Details of the itinerary and final outcomes remain fluid, but the delegation's composition underscores London's focus on leveraging private sector strengths to rebuild economic bridges with the world's second-largest economy.
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