U.K.’s Starmer Meets Xi Jinping in Beijing as Ties Warm

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by David PiersonJanuary 29, 2026 at 04:38 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

In January 2026, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing to strengthen business ties between the two countries. Starmer's visit, the first by a British leader since 2018, included a delegation of business executives from various sectors. Starmer emphasized the economic opportunities of engaging with China, marking a shift from previous British administrations that prioritized security and human rights concerns. The meeting occurs amidst strained relations between the United States and its European allies, with Starmer aiming to improve relations with China without provoking President Trump. Xi Jinping views Starmer's visit as evidence of China's continued importance on the global stage.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Conservative Party 30% Theresa May 40% Canada 40% Mark Carney ×240% Labour Party 40% Donald Trump ×360% United States ×460% Beijing ×470% Xi Jinping ×480% UK ×480% Keir Starmer ×790% China ×690%

Keywords

u.k.-china relations 90% keir starmer 80% xi jinping 70% business ties 70% economic relations 60% u.s.-europe relations 50% trade 50% international relations 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: 0.10

Source Transparency

Source

New York Times - World

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.30)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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u.k.-china relations keir starmer xi jinping business ties economic relations u.s.-europe relations trade international relations

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