Post by : Meena Ariff

Visiting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said the United Kingdom has a “huge amount to offer” China, as his push to rebuild ties with Beijing sparked criticism from US President Donald Trump.

Starmer’s China trip is the first by a British prime minister in eight years and comes at a time when several Western nations are rethinking their global alliances amid increasing uncertainty in relations with Washington. In recent weeks, leaders from France, Canada and Finland have also travelled to Beijing, reflecting concerns over Trump’s confrontational approach, including his remarks on Greenland and threats of new tariffs on NATO allies.

Trump warned on Thursday that Britain’s engagement with China was “very dangerous.” In response, China’s foreign ministry said Beijing is willing to strengthen cooperation with all countries based on mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

During the visit, Starmer met President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, with both sides emphasizing the need for stronger dialogue and cooperation in a complex global environment. Speaking at the UK-China Business Forum held at the Bank of China on Friday, Starmer said talks between the two countries were warm and constructive, adding that real progress had been made.

He said the discussions delivered exactly the level of engagement Britain had hoped for and stressed that the UK is prepared to deepen economic and commercial ties with China. Several agreements were signed a day earlier, covering cooperation to disrupt migrant smuggling supply chains, expand British exports to China, strengthen health collaboration, and reinforce the bilateral trade commission.

Downing Street announced that China had agreed to grant visa-free travel to British citizens for stays of up to 30 days. However, China’s foreign ministry later said the proposal is still under active consideration and would be officially announced once all procedures are completed.

Starmer described the agreements as symbolic of a renewed and forward-looking relationship between the two countries. From Beijing, he travelled to Shanghai, where he interacted with Chinese students at a joint education institute run by Donghua University and the University of Edinburgh.

China also agreed to reduce tariffs on British whisky from 10 percent to 5 percent, a move expected to significantly benefit UK exporters. Starmer is set to continue his Asia tour with a short visit to Japan on Saturday, where he will meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Relations between London and Beijing deteriorated after 2020, following China’s introduction of a national security law in Hong Kong and a crackdown on pro-democracy activists. Despite ongoing political tensions, China remains the UK’s third-largest trading partner. Starmer is hoping that renewed engagement with Beijing will help advance his central goal of boosting economic growth in Britain.

Underscoring growing business confidence, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced a $15 billion investment in China through 2030 to expand manufacturing and research operations. The company’s chief executive, Pascal Soriot, said China has emerged as a critical contributor to scientific innovation, advanced manufacturing, and global public health.

#world news #Global News