In a Bid to Kick-Start Growth, Britain Turns to China

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain arrived in China this week with more than two dozen of his country’s business and financial leaders in tow for the first visit by a British leader to the country in eight years. Mr. Starmer’s embattled government is trying to reverse sluggish economic growth, in part by helping British businesses strengthen ties with China, the world’s second-largest economy.

Over the years, Britain’s $140 billion trading relationship with China has veered from a “golden era” to an “ice age,” Mr. Starmer said.

The thaw in relations comes as Mr. Starmer says Britain must “deal with the world as it is.” After years of upheaval, from Brexit up until President Trump’s tariffs, diversifying Britain’s international ties would make its economy more resilient. Britain’s economy is suffering from a “bout of mild stagflation,” an unwelcome combination of low growth and high prices, according to Oxford Economics, a research group.

As the global trading order breaks down, the prime minister has insisted that Britain doesn’t need to choose among close alignments with Europe, the United States and China. The government also recently signed trade deals with India and South Korea.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/business/uk-china-trade-business-starmer-xi.html