The meeting between President Xi Jinping and Sir Keir Starmer was always going to carry weight, but the setting alone made that clear.
Inside Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, just steps from Tiananmen Square, both leaders opened talks knowing they were marking a turning point after years of distance and unease between London and Beijing.
From the outset, President Xi framed the relationship as one that had drifted off course.
He spoke candidly about past “twists and turns”, making it clear that the ups and downs had helped neither side.
The message was blunt but deliberate: the time had come to steady the ship.
Xi’s Call for Dialogue and Durability
President Xi repeatedly returned to one central idea – dialogue.
In his view, sustained engagement was no longer optional but essential, not just for trade and growth, but for global calm.
He stressed that closer communication between China and the UK was “imperative” for world peace and stability, tying diplomatic warmth directly to economic and security outcomes.
He also struck a notably conciliatory tone, pointing out that previous Labour governments had played a constructive role in strengthening ties.
Looking ahead, he said China was ready to pursue a long-term, predictable strategic partnership with the UK, one designed to outlast political cycles and disagreements.
In a philosophical moment, Xi suggested that history would judge both sides kindly if they could look beyond their differences.
Quoting a Chinese proverb about seeing far into the distance, he urged patience, resolve and a willingness to push forward even when progress felt slow.
Starmer’s Pitch for a More Grown-Up Relationship
When Sir Keir responded, he made clear that this visit was about resetting the tone as much as the policy.
He described his ambition for a “more sophisticated” relationship with China, one that acknowledged disagreements but refused to be paralysed by them.
He pointed out that it had been far too long since a British prime minister last visited Beijing, calling China a “vital player on the world stage”.
For Starmer, this was not just about diplomacy at the top but about everyday consequences back home – from the cost of food in supermarkets to the sense of security felt by ordinary families.
He reminded his hosts that, upon entering government 18 months earlier, he had promised to make Britain more outward-looking again.
This trip, he said, was a direct expression of that pledge.
Warm Words From China’s Parliament
Before meeting President Xi, Sir Keir was welcomed by Zhao Leji, chairman of China’s National People’s Congress.
Zhao offered an optimistic assessment, saying relations were now back on the “correct track” and showing signs of genuine improvement.
That message of cautious progress was echoed by the Prime Minister, who described the visit as historic – the first by a UK leader in eight years.
He said the decision to travel to China was rooted in a belief that cooperation, however complex, remained firmly in both countries’ interests.
Shared Challenges on the Table
Looking ahead to the days of talks, Sir Keir signalled the breadth of issues he wanted to tackle.
Global stability and security, economic growth and climate change were all firmly on the agenda.
He spoke of the need for practical discussions on shared challenges, rather than symbolic gestures.
The tone on both sides suggested realism rather than romance – an acceptance that disagreements remain, but also that disengagement serves no one.
What’s Next?
The visit now moves into detailed negotiations and private discussions, where warm words will be tested against hard policy choices.
Whether this marks a lasting reset or simply a pause in long-standing tensions will depend on what follows once the handshakes in Beijing are over.