Beijing, Jan 28 (V7N)-  British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Beijing on a high-profile visit aimed at rebuilding strained UK–China relations, marking the first visit by a British prime minister to China since 2018, according to BBC News.

Starmer is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday (January 29). He is accompanied by a large delegation of around 60 business and cultural leaders, including senior executives from HSBC, pharmaceutical giant GSK, Jaguar Land Rover, and representatives from the National Theatre.

The British government has described the visit as the most significant step yet in restoring dialogue and cooperation with China, one of the world’s largest economies. Officials say the focus will be on trade, investment, cultural exchange, and maintaining open diplomatic channels.

However, the visit has drawn criticism at home. Opponents argue that China’s political system and values are fundamentally incompatible with Britain’s democratic principles, urging the government to adopt a more cautious approach in dealing with the Chinese Communist Party.

Human rights concerns also loom large over the visit. Beijing continues to face international accusations of crimes against humanity against Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in the Xinjiang region. The potential life sentence facing Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai has further intensified global criticism.

In addition, UK security agencies have raised alarms over Chinese espionage activities. Recently, the head of MI5 warned that Chinese state-linked operations pose a persistent threat to Britain’s national security.

Despite these concerns, Downing Street has emphasized the strategic importance of engagement. Ahead of the visit, Prime Minister Starmer said,

“Over the years, our relationship with China has at times been warm and at other times cold. But whether we like it or not, China matters to the UK. As a major global economic power, a stable and strategic relationship with China is in our national interest.”

He added that the UK would continue dialogue with Beijing without ignoring disagreements or challenges, signaling a pragmatic but cautious reset of relations.

END/SMA/AJ