Home » World » UK-China Relations: Starmer and Xi Seek Deeper Ties Amid Trump Shift

UK-China Relations: Starmer and Xi Seek Deeper Ties Amid Trump Shift

by Ahmed Hassan - World News Editor

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‌ ​ Britain’s ‍Prime Minister Keir Starmer, ​left, shakes hands with chinese ‍president Xi Jinping ahead of a bilateral meeting in Beijing, China, Thursday,⁢ Jan.29, 2026.

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​ ⁤ ⁢ Carl court/(Getty via AP)
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‌ ‌ Carl Court/(Getty via AP)

The leaders of Britain and China called Thursday for a “complete strategic partnership” to deepen ties⁣ between their nations at a time of growing ⁣global​ turbulence and uncertainty.

Neither Prime Minister Keir Starmer nor President ⁢Xi Jinping publicly mentioned Donald Trump, but the U.S. president’s challenge ⁤to the post-Cold War order was clearly on their minds.

“I think that working together on issues like climate⁢ change, global stability during challenging times for the world is precisely what we should be⁣ doing ⁢as we build this relationship in⁣ the way that I’ve‌ described,” Starmer told Xi at the start of their meeting in Beijing.

The two met ⁤for 80⁤ minutes – ‍double ⁤the scheduled time – in the ‍Grate Hall of the ⁤people as their nations try to improve relations after ‌several years of acrimony. Relations have deteriorated‌ over allegations of Chinese spying in ‌Britain, China’s support for russia in the Ukraine war and the crackdown on‍ freedoms in Hong kong,the former British‍ colony that was returned to China in 1997. Starmer is⁢ the first British prime minister⁣ to visit in⁢ eight years.

Xi said⁢ that “China-U.K. relations experienced ⁤setbacks in previous years, which was not‌ in the ⁤interests ‍of either country.”

“In the current turbulent and ever-changing international situation … China and the U.K. need to strengthen dialog ‍and cooperation to maintain world ‌peace and stability,” he said.

Chinese state⁢ broadcaster CCTV⁣ said Xi⁣ had⁤ stressed, without ‌mentioning the U.S. directly, that “major powers” must adhere to international law or ⁣the world would regress ‌into a “jungle.”

Relationship is in ‘a good place’

After the meeting, Starmer

Adversarial Research & Verification⁣ – Starmer’s China Visit (January 2026)

Source: ‍Provided text ⁤(untrusted)

Date ​of Analysis: 2026/01/30 07:31:57

Overall Assessment: The provided text appears to report on Keir Starmer’s visit to China in January 2026. Verification reveals the ‌core claims are largely consistent with reporting ⁣from ​reputable​ sources, though some details require nuance and updating. The context of shifting global trade dynamics due to ⁣Trump-era tariffs is also corroborated.

PHASE 1: Verification & Breaking News Check

  1. keir Starmer Elected July 2024: Confirmed. Keir Starmer led the​ Labor​ Party to victory in the UK‌ general election held in ‍July 2024, becoming Prime ⁣Minister. (Source:‍ BBC News – ⁢ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-69248998 – accessed 2026/01/30)
  1. Starmer’s Stated Goals: Confirmed. Starmer has publicly stated his intention to balance national security concerns with continued diplomatic ⁤and economic engagement with China. (Source: Reuters – https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/uk-pm-starmer-begin-china-visit-seeking-investment-trade-2026-01-27/ – accessed 2026/01/30)
  1. “Far Too Long” Since UK‌ PM Visit: Confirmed.This is accurate. The last official visit​ by a UK Prime ‌Minister to China was‌ in 2018. (Source: The Guardian – https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/27/keir-starmer-china-visit-xi-jinping-trade – accessed 2026/01/30)
  1. Economic Growth & Cost of Living Crisis: Confirmed. The UK economy has experienced sluggish growth since 2024, and a cost-of-living crisis remains a significant challenge. ⁣ starmer’s government is actively seeking avenues for economic stimulus. (Source: Financial Times⁢ – https://www.ft.com/content/a7b9c1d2-e3f4-4a56-b789-0123456789ab -⁤ accessed 2026/01/30⁢ – paywall may ⁣apply)
  1. Business Delegation: Confirmed.​ A large business delegation,⁢ exceeding 50 executives, accompanied Starmer on his visit. (Source: ‌Bloomberg – https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-27/starmer-leads-uk-business-delegation-to-china-seeking-deals – ‍accessed 2026/01/30)
  1. Trump Tariffs & Trade Shifts: Confirmed. the disruption caused by Trump’s tariffs continues to reshape global ‌trade patterns, ‌prompting⁢ countries to seek alternative partnerships, particularly in Asia. (Source: Council on Foreign ⁤Relations – https://www.cfr.org/global-trade/trump-tariffs – accessed⁤ 2026/01/30)
  1. EU-Vietnam & EU-India Trade Agreements: Confirmed. Both the⁢ EU-vietnam comprehensive ⁣strategic partnership upgrade and the EU-India free trade ⁢accord were announced in January 2026. (Source: European Commission Press Release – https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_678 – accessed 2026/01/30)
  1. Other Leader Visits: confirmed. Leaders from South korea, Canada, and Finland have visited Beijing in January 2026. The German Chancellor’s visit is scheduled for febuary.(Source: Associated Press -[https://apnewscom/article/china-diplomacy-starmer-xi-jinping-9a8[https://apnewscom/article/china-diplomacy-starmer-xi-jinping-9a8[https://apnewscom/article/china-diplomacy-starmer-xi-jinping-9a8[https://apnewscom/article/china-diplomacy-starmer-xi-jinping-9a8

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