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U.K. Aims to Reduce ‘Volatility’ in China Ties as Starmer Visits Beijing

Published: Jan. 28, 2026 3:59 p.m. GMT+8

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British Ambassador to China Peter Wilson. Photo: VCG

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday against a backdrop of global uncertainty, kicking off the first visit to China by a U.K. leader since 2018.

The diplomatic mission aims to forge a pragmatic middle path for Sino-British relations, eschewing both the exuberant “Golden Age” of the past and the glacial hostilities of recent years.

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits China, the first such trip since 2018, aiming for stable, pragmatic Sino-British relations.
Starmer is accompanied by over 50 UK business leaders, with expectations of concrete commercial deals and strengthened economic ties.
The visit seeks to balance relations with China and the US amid global uncertainty, focusing on economic cooperation and global stability.

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