Keir Starmer to hold talks with Xi to bolster economic ties with China

Keir Starmer will meet the Chinese president Xi Jinping on Thursday for historic talks he hopes will deepen economic ties at a time when some inside government fear the US is no longer a reliable partner.The prime minister – the first UK leader to visit China in eight years – will hold a 40-minute meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing before a number of cultural and business receptions.On the flight to Beijing, Starmer told journalists he wanted to bring “stability and clarity” to the bilateral relations after years of “inconsistency” under the Tories when it went from “golden age to ice age”.As the world’s second biggest economy, and the UK’s third largest trading partner to which it exports £45bn of goods and services a year, it is no surprise the UK has turned to China in its search for economic reliability.Although the UK does not rank among the top 10 of China’s trading partners, the Beijing leadership has spied a political opportunity to improve links with one of the US’s closest allies at a time of deep uncertainty in the transatlantic alliance.Starmer, who was also scheduled to meet the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, on Thursday, has insisted he is “clear-eyed” about the threat China poses to the UK’s national security, with Downing Street saying he would have “guardrails” in place to protect against espionage.He has vowed to raise difficult human rights issues, such as the case of Jimmy Lai, the former media tycoon and one of Hong Kong’s most significant pro-democracy voices, with the UK government pressing for his release.Tory hawks have criticised the prime minister for pursuing a thaw in relations, after China was accused of trying to recruit informants in parliament, harass Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in the UK and engage in cyber-attacks.No 10 will also be keeping a close eye on Donald Trump’s reaction to the visit, and has insisted the UK will not be forced to “choose between” China and the US, amid rising trade tensions between the two superpowers.They pointed out that Trump met Xi in October and planned to visit China in April. Since early 2018, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, has visited China three times while German leaders have visited four times.The PM’s visit has attracted fierce criticism from his political opponents in the UK, particularly after the government gave the green light for a Chinese mega-embassy near Tower Bridge in London.After a speech in London, the Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she would not visit China “at this time” if she were in charge.“We should be talking more to those countries who are aligned with our interests, not the country that is doing everything it can to undermine our economy,” Badenoch said.Starmer will be hoping to develop a personal bond with Xi, which government insiders have said could help in future negotiations – for example if seeking China’s support in bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine.His gift for the president, who is a Manchester United fan, was the football used during last week’s match when Xi’s team beat Arsenal, which the prime minister supports.Since taking office, Starmer has pursued a policy towards China which has been more open to engagement, while also cautious. He has met Xi before, with the pair holding talks at the G20 summit in Rio in late 2024.Among deals expected to be agreed during the trip is the issue surrounding asylum seekers arriving in the UK in small boats from France.Downing Street said the planned agreement would seek to tackle the supply of boat parts which are manufactured in China, with 60% of the engines used last year being Chinese.The deal, to be signed after the talks with Xi and Li, will see UK law enforcement agencies work with Chinese authorities to share intelligence over the illicit export of boat parts, and to engage with manufacturers of the engines.It is also intended to deepen cooperation over serious and organised crime, such as the trafficking of powerful synthetic opioids, which have been responsible for more than 750 deaths in the UK.The agenda for the much of the talkswill focus on how to balance the need for commercial and diplomatic engagement with China while limiting its direct influence over UK infrastructure, and maintaining pressure on human rights, including the Uyghur population of Xinjiang, as well as people in Hong Kong.Asked about the implications of Mingyang, China’s biggest offshore wind company, potentially being allowed to supply turbines for windfarms in the UK, Starmer refused to add further comment.No decision has been made in relation to Mingyang,” he said. “There’s no decision on that yet, one way or another, but obviously uppermost in our minds is the national security of the United Kingdom.”Starmer dismissed apparent US concerns about the UK’s deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos islands to Mauritius, saying US intelligence agencies disagree with Trump’s newly found opposition to the plan.Downing Street sources said the agreement is a “done deal” and will not be scuppered by the US.