British Prime Minister Keir Starmer concluded his visit to China, expressing approval for the economic and trade cooperation documents signed between the two nations and highlighting investments in the UK by companies such as POP MART, the creator of the popular doll Labubu.
The Prime Minister departed from Shanghai on January 31 after a four-day visit to China. Throughout the trip, he repeatedly stated that his decision to restart engagement with China would deliver tangible benefits for the British people.
Starmer remarked, "We have established a stable, clear, and long-term strategy for UK-China engagement, aimed at securing real advantages for British businesses and workers."
The visit was centered on economic and trade cooperation, with Starmer leading a delegation of over 50 senior executives from major British companies and institutional representatives.
Downing Street indicated that the visit resulted in agreements on export trade and market access, alongside commitments for billions of pounds in investments from Chinese companies into the UK.
Among these, POP MART, the maker of Labubu, pledged to open seven stores in the UK, including a flagship location on London's Oxford Street.
An editorial published by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post on January 31, titled "Starmer's visit to China highlights the benefits of non-confrontation," suggested that Starmer aims to move beyond the "ice age" in UK-China relations that characterized the previous Conservative government.
The article posited that Starmer's visit to China represents a significant step in this direction. Against the backdrop of former US President Donald Trump's trade wars and remarks about acquiring Greenland, the relationships of the UK and EU nations with the US face uncertainty.
Governments cannot rely solely on the United States and need to engage with other major powers.
As the world's second-largest economy, China can no longer be ignored. Leaders from various countries, including Canada, France, Finland, Ireland, and South Korea, have been visiting China.
Starmer's visit underscored the benefits achievable through dialogue and diplomacy rather than confrontation. Several deals were finalized. Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca committed to investing $15 billion in China, enabling it to expand drug production and boost research and development.
The most crucial outcome was the willingness of both nations' leaders to work together constructively and with mutual respect, ensuring that differences between the two countries do not obstruct cooperation.
The article concluded by noting that the UK and China share a long and deep relationship, with Britain being the first Western power to recognize the People's Republic of China in 1950. Starmer expressed his desire to build a "mature" relationship with China, from which both countries could derive significant benefits.
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