UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Visit China and Japan, First Official Beijing Trip Since 2018

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to depart for China and Japan on Tuesday night. This visit is reported to be the first official trip by a British Prime Minister to Beijing since 2018.

According to a spokesperson for Downing Street, he will leave for his trip to China and Japan on Tuesday night. This comes as the previous Conservative government had driven relations between London and Beijing to a new low. In this context, Starmer's visit will primarily focus on the ambition to re-establish economic ties with China.

This trip announcement comes just days after the British government approved the construction of a 20,000 square meter 'mega-embassy' in central London. This embassy is set to be the largest for Britain, though legal challenges and local protests are still likely to continue.

Last month, Starmer acknowledged that while China offers economic opportunities, it also poses risks from a national security perspective. Security Minister Dan Jarvis also stated that China continues to pose a threat to national security.

During the visit, the British leader is expected to raise trade, investment, and other significant issues, such as the Chinese ownership of British Steel. The government spokesperson informed that intelligence agencies have helped develop measures to manage security risks.

Starmer's visit is expected to signal an effort to strengthen trade, investment, and security relations between the two countries.