Beijing: The visiting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday encouraged UK businesses to expand engagement with China, underscoring dialogue, exchange, and openness as key to building long-term trust between the two countries, according to Chinese state-run media.
According to Anadolu Agency, speaking at a business forum in Beijing, Starmer emphasized that deeper engagement in trade, culture, and people-to-people exchanges was essential for strengthening mutual respect and confidence, as reported by Global Times. Starmer remarked on the historic nature of the visit, marking the first time a British prime minister has visited China in eight years.
Starmer expressed his belief in the importance of engagement and exchange, stating, "I fundamentally believe that the more we engage, the more we exchange, the more we take advantage of the opening of access to opportunities, business, art, culture, and so many others, then that is the way that we build the mutual trust and respect that is so important," he told the forum. He also highlighted the significance of direct interaction between business leaders and officials from both countries, noting that the UK delegation had already held discussions with their Chinese counterparts to advance concrete opportunities.
During his address, Starmer stressed the importance of communication, saying, "The most important thing today is that you all talk to each other," adding that sustained dialogue would help unlock new areas of cooperation and growth.
On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted British Prime Minister Starmer in Beijing as he arrived in China on Wednesday evening local time, accompanied by 60 leaders from the business, academic, and cultural sectors. In a move to combat transnational crime and illegal immigration, China has granted 30-day visa-free travel to UK nationals as part of a series of agreements.
Starmer's visit, marking the first time a British prime minister has traveled to China since 2018, comes amid tensions about US tariffs, as well as strains among Western allies regarding various issues, including US ambitions in Greenland. Following his meeting with Xi, Premier Li Qiang also hosted Starmer and signed multiple cooperation agreements.