Accompanied by around 60 British business and cultural leaders, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for an official visit to China through Saturday.
Addressing business delegates in the lobby of their hotel in Beijing, Starmer was quoted by BBC as saying that “on this delegation, you’re making history. You’re part of the change that we’re bringing about.”
Starmer continued that “We are resolute about being outward-looking, about taking opportunities, about building relationships … and always being absolutely focused on our national interest.”
“I hope we can make some progress, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself,” he said when asked if he would strike a visa-free deal this week, according to Bloomberg.
Starmer’s visit comes after a string of trips to China by several Western leaders this month. Chinese experts said the surge reflects a desire to deepen cooperation with Beijing and seek stability amid a turbulent global landscape. The experts have also downplayed some Western media’s portrayals of the trend as a “pivot to China,” arguing instead that it represents an effort by those countries to pursue horizontal cooperation to protect their own interests.
