British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stands in Downing Street in London, England, on January 27, 2026.
Jack Taylor | Getty Images News | Getty Images
BEIJING – Around 60 British businesses and cultural organizations will be participating in British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first state visit to China this week, his first state visit in eight years.
Starmer will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Thursday to discuss trade, investment and national security, Britain’s official statement said.
This group includes financial industry leaders such as: HSBC Group Chairman Brendan Nelson and Aberdeen Group CEO Jason Windsor.
aircraft giant airbusJohn Harrison, general counsel at British Airways, and Colm Lacey, chief commercial officer at British Airways, will also join.
Pharmaceutical executives accompanying Mr Starmer include: AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot and GSK Chairman Sir Jonathan Symonds.
The visit comes as Beijing hosts a series of foreign leaders this month amid escalating tensions between the United States and its trading partners and the dispute over Greenland.
Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Beijing. On the first Monday of 2026, Mr. Xi met with Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin, the first such visit by an Irish leader in 14 years, and later that day hosted South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. President Xi also met with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Tuesday.
The timing of Starmer’s trip is attracting attention. The British government last week approved plans for a vast new Chinese embassy in London, which had been stalled for years due to political and security concerns.
London is seeking to strengthen new trade and investment ties with China as US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and tariff threats unsettle traditional allies such as the European Union and Canada.
President Trump previously announced a plan to impose 10% tariffs on European countries that opposed his plan to acquire Greenland, but later reversed the plan. He also threatened to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Canada if Ottawa pursues a free trade agreement with China.
The British government said in a statement that Starmer would “promote access to sectors where better cooperation with China drives growth and brings prosperity to the British people”, including financial services, creative industries and life sciences.
However, he added, “The president will make it clear that he will not trade national security for economic cooperation. He will address areas where he disagrees with China.” He stressed the need for “frank and open dialogue.”
