As UK PM Starmer leaves China, what did he achieve – and what next for Sino-British ties?

China and the United Kingdom are expected to sign more business deals as the British delegation, which comprises 54 companies, heads to Shanghai from Beijing as part of Keir Starmer’s visit, the first by a UK prime minister since 2018.

The UK delegation will attend a reception in Shanghai on Friday evening, according to Peter Burnett, chief executive of the China-Britain Business Council. A business forum will be held, followed by lunch on Saturday before the group departs the country.

“I think we signed some more deals this morning, including a very exciting MOU [memorandum of understanding] between the China-Britain Business Council and Suzhou of Jiangsu province, to create an innovation hub,” he said, noting that start-ups looking to expand in China would be given a warm welcome in the city.

The visit had been seen as a critical test of Starmer’s push for a pragmatic “reset”, particularly as Britain seeks to balance an increasingly coercive Washington under US President Donald Trump and a Beijing it has long labelled a “national security threat”.

Describing the trip as “a huge relief”, Burnett said there had been “a great sense of optimism” because it was the first trip by a UK prime minister to China in years.

“It’s been kind of almost irresponsible that there hasn’t been outreach from a prime minister for eight years, so we’re really pleased that that is happening,” he added.

South China Morning Post