UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in First Visit in Eight Years

Beijing. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Starmer, who is on a visit to China, met with Xi on Thursday, January 29. This is the first visit by a British Prime Minister to China in eight years.

Starmer is seeking to improve relations with China at a time when the UK's economic growth rate is faltering. Starmer stated that the UK desires good relations with China. He also called China a 'significant player on the world stage.'

Noting the fluctuations experienced in UK-China relations, President Xi Jinping stated that China is ready for a long-term strategic partnership with the UK. Describing the current global situation as unstable and changing, Xi emphasized that good dialogue is necessary for peace and stability in the world.

Amid cooling relations with the United States, various countries have recently been attempting to improve ties with China. Starmer's visit to China followed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's signing of an economic agreement with China.