‘The relationship is in a good place, a strong place,’ British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said after an 80-minute meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives for a three-day visit in Beijing on Jan. 28, 2026. Carl Court/PA Wire
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wants a “sophisticated relationship” with China after meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Jan. 29.
The pair called for a “strategic partnership” to improve ties between the two countries.


