Starmer in Beijing to forge new financial and commerce agreements between the United Kingdom and China | EUROtoday

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The United Kingdom can’t afford to disregard China: with these phrases Prime Minister Keir Starmer left as we speak for an official go to to Beijing, the primary by a British chief since 2018. Accompanied by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, and by a delegation of dozens of entrepreneurs and bankers, Starmer makes no secret of his objective of building commerce agreements with China to revive the asphyxiated British financial system.

Since he was elected in 2024, the Labor prime minister has sought to restore relations with Beijing, which had turn into more and more tense in earlier years each because of the Chinese regime’s iron fist towards dissidents within the former British colony of Hong Kong and the quite a few accusations of espionage, interference and cyber assaults geared toward China.

The new Chinese embassy in London

Last week, after years of controversy over the dangers to nationwide safety and regardless of criticism from the opposition and native residents, the Government accepted the brand new Chinese embassy in London, the most important in Europe, a stone’s throw from the City’s monetary district.
There are two causes behind the transfer: to pave the best way for Starmer’s official go to which begins as we speak, and to facilitate the approval by the Chinese authorities of the brand new 100 million pound embassy that the British Government needs to open in Beijing and which the regime had thus far blocked.

Journey devoted to do ut dessubsequently, however it stays to be seen what the British Prime Minister will be capable of obtain. In addition to commerce agreements and better openness for British companies and banks, the signing of an settlement on the battle towards unlawful immigration is predicted.

What political technique?

Starmer’s sensible goals are clear, however his political technique is much less clear. The prime minister intends to get nearer to Beijing, however he is aware of full properly that he can’t irritate Washington. Only just a few days in the past, American President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on all Canadian imports if Prime Minister Mark Carney, recent from a profitable official go to to Beijing, indicators a commerce settlement with China.