Xi hosts UK prime minister Starmer, urges deeper China ties talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Beijing on Thursday, with both leaders signaling a desire to reset and stabilize China-UK relations at a time of global volatility. The talks highlighted China’s role in international politics and London’s effort to redefine engagement with Beijing, developments watched by Türkiye as part of broader Eurasian diplomatic trends.

Calls for long-term strategic engagement

Xi told Starmer that relations between China and the United Kingdom had faced setbacks in recent years and that a longer-term strategic perspective was needed. Describing the global environment as uncertain, Xi said deeper dialogue would serve world peace, economic stability and the interests of both societies, stressing that cooperation should prevail over rivalry.

UK seeks pragmatic and structured dialogue

Starmer said China remains “a vital player on the global stage” and argued for what he called a “more sophisticated relationship” that allows cooperation where interests align and open discussion where disagreements exist. He said such an approach was essential to deliver economic growth, security and progress on shared challenges such as climate change.

Historic visit amid shifting geopolitics

The visit, the first by a British prime minister since 2018, comes as Western alliances face strains over trade policies and strategic priorities. Accompanied by a large delegation from business and academic circles, Starmer is also scheduled to visit Shanghai before traveling on to East Asia. China and the UK, which established diplomatic relations in 1950, recorded bilateral trade of nearly $100 billion in 2024, underlining the economic weight of the relationship.