By Micah Jonah, January 28, 2026
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer will make the first visit by a UK leader to China in eight years, seeking to strengthen economic ties with the world’s second-largest economy while reducing reliance on an increasingly unpredictable United States.
Starmer departs for a three-day visit accompanied by two ministers and a delegation of business executives, including HSBC chairman Brendan Nelson and AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot. Meetings are planned with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, followed by engagements in Shanghai, before a brief stop in Japan.
The visit comes amid rising tension between London and Washington, triggered Donald Trump’s threats over Greenland and other trade remarks. Analysts say the trip offers Britain an opportunity to assert its independent foreign policy and explore areas of cooperation with China, including artificial intelligence, public health, and climate change.
“One of the anomalies of the current situation is that London is probably closer to Beijing than Washington on some global issues,” said Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese studies at King’s College, London.
Britain aims to use the trip to secure trade and investment deals to support domestic economic growth and public service investment. In the year ending mid-2025, China was Britain’s fourth-largest trading partner, with trade totaling around £100 billion ($137 billion).
While China welcomes the visit as a chance to open a “new chapter” in bilateral relations, experts note that Britain still remains economically dependent on the United States. China accounts for only 0.2% of foreign direct investment in Britain, compared with about a third from the U.S.
Starmer’s visit also occurs amid domestic scrutiny over security concerns, following approval for China to build a large embassy in London despite fears it could facilitate espionage.
Observers will watch closely whether the trip yields tangible economic benefits for Britain, or whether it primarily serves as a diplomatic balancing act between Beijing and Washington
