BEIJING: Keir Starmer began the first visit to China by a British prime minister since 2018 on Wednesday (Jan 28), seeking to strengthen political and business ties with Beijing as relations between Western countries and the US become more volatile.
Starmer, whose approach to China has been criticised by some British and US politicians, said Britain must remain vigilant about potential security threats but could not afford to ignore the opportunities presented by the world’s second-largest economy.
“It doesn’t make sense to stick our head in the ground and bury it in the sand when it comes to China, it’s in our interests to engage,” he told reporters on the plane. “It’s going to be a really important trip for us and we’ll make some real progress.”
Travelling with a delegation of more than 50 business leaders, Starmer will meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Thursday before travelling to Shanghai on Friday for talks with local executives.
The visit could mark a shift in ties between Britain and China after years of deep acrimony over Beijing’s crackdown on political freedoms in Hong Kong, China’s support for Russia in the Ukraine war and allegations by British security services that China regularly spies on politicians and officials.
For China, the visit offers the country a chance to portray itself as a stable and reliable partner at a time of global disorder.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/britains-starmer-heads-china-western-alliances-face-strain-5890531
