Starmer’s trip is the first visit to China by a British leader in eight years and is designed to repair a relationship strained by tensions over Hong Kong, security concerns and wider geopolitical rifts. He will hold talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, while leading a large business delegation to Beijing and Shanghai focused on trade, investment and market access. Starmer has argued that it is “illogical to bury our heads in the sand regarding China” and that structured engagement is firmly in the UK’s interests.
Supporting calls from the British Chambers of Commerce, Stuart Patrick CBE, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said the visit must be firmly rooted in trade. “UK–China relations are critical to the UK economy, and the Prime Minister’s forthcoming visit to China must focus on sustaining and strengthening our trading relationship,” he said. At a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, he argued that “trade and collaboration are essential to building resilience, diversifying markets and creating new growth opportunities for businesses on both sides.”
Patrick highlighted that Glasgow companies are already deeply engaged in China. “Glasgow businesses have a long-standing and successful relationship with the Chinese market, especially Shanghai where Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is playing a growing role in opening doors and supporting companies through trade missions and commercial partnerships,” he said. Emphasising the scale of existing activity, he added: “This visit must focus on giving businesses the confidence to invest and expand, building on the success of the more than 10,000 British firms that already export to China each year.”
Starmer is travelling with a delegation of more than 50 senior business figures and cultural institutions, underlining the central role of commerce in the visit. Executives from sectors such as aerospace, pharmaceuticals and finance are expected to explore opportunities in China’s vast consumer and services markets, even as both governments acknowledge ongoing political and security differences. Recent data show China remains one of the UK’s largest export markets, with tens of billions of pounds in goods and services flowing each year, reinforcing why corporate groups are keen to see a stable, predictable framework for engagement.
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Officials in London say the Prime Minister will raise issues such as security risks, alleged espionage and human rights alongside trade and investment. The government has sought to frame its approach as “engage but be clear‑eyed”, insisting that economic cooperation with China can be expanded while Britain continues to push back on activities it sees as hostile or contrary to international norms. For business leaders like Patrick, the priority is that this nuanced stance translates into practical measures, from clearer rules and safeguards to more trade missions and support, giving firms the certainty they need to keep backing the Chinese market over the long term.
