China and the UK are working to rebuild ties between the two countries

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to build a long-term strategic partnership with the United Kingdom during his talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

After years of strained relations, China and the U.K. are seeking to forge a long-term strategic partnership following a key meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Starmer is on a four-day visit to China, the first by a British prime minister in eight years—a sign of efforts to reset relations between the two countries after years of mistrust and acrimony.

The U.K. has frequently accused China of espionage within the country and has designated it a long-term strategic challenge.

British officials are planning to tighten scrutiny of Chinese activity due to national security concerns, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Beijing’s crackdown on democratic protests in Hong Kong, a former British colony, and the imposition of a sweeping national security law in 2020 further strained relations, while U.K. businesses in China have pointed to a difficult business environment in the country.

The British government sanctioned two Chinese tech companies in December, accusing them of cyberattacks that it said harmed the U.K.’s security and prosperity.

Against this backdrop, Thursday’s developments signal a positive shift in relations.

According to a statement published by Chinese state media on Thursday, the two countries said they would enhance cooperation in key areas such as education, healthcare, finance, and research in artificial intelligence, biological sciences, and new energy development.

The statement added that Beijing would consider opening visa-free entry for British citizens, while also appealing to London to create a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies operating in the U.K.

According to Reuters, Starmer told Xi at the start of the meeting that it was “essential that we build a better relationship” that would allow both sides to identify areas for further cooperation and dialogue.

According to the Chinese readout, London will maintain high-level close communication with Beijing and deepen trade and investment partnerships.

According to a Reuters report, speaking to reporters after the summit with Xi, Starmer described the meeting as having a “positive” and “productive outcome,” adding that relations were in a “good and strong place.”

Is the focus shifting towards China?

Xi said that “unilateralism, protectionism, and power politics have become rampant, severely impacting the international order,” and appealed to major economic powers to “take the lead” in upholding international laws, “otherwise they will revert to a world of the jungle.”

Starmer’s visit comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and tariff threats have alienated traditional allies, while Beijing has hosted several Western leaders this month, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin—the first visit by an Irish leader in 14 years—and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Starmer’s diplomatic shift mirrors that of Canada, which signed a trade agreement with China earlier this month following Carney’s visit, as Ottawa appears to be diversifying its trade and investment partners amid ongoing friction with Washington.

On Wednesday, Starmer urged dozens of British business leaders traveling with him to capitalize on opportunities in the world’s second-largest economy.

The U.K. government said in a statement on Wednesday that it would maintain a “strategic and consistent relationship” with Beijing to strengthen new investment and trade ties while remaining vigilant about potential security threats.

Last week, the U.K. government approved plans for a new, large Chinese embassy in London, a proposal that had been stalled for years due to political and security concerns.

According to the British Chamber of Commerce in China, U.K. businesses in China have faced a consistently deteriorating business environment for the past six years.

In a report released in December, the organization said that nearly 60% of the more than 300 British companies surveyed said that doing business in the country had become more difficult than a year earlier. Citing economic slowdown, regulatory pressures, and geopolitical risks, it said, “Overall, the business environment remains complex and often unpredictable.”

However, the report noted that there were no strong signs of a major shift away from the Chinese market, with many companies still viewing China as a crucial market, although they appear to be more cautious about expansion plans.

According to U.K. government data, the U.K.’s trade deficit with China in the 12 months ending June 2025 increased by more than 18% compared to the previous year, reaching £42 billion ($58.1 billion).