Chinese Premier Li Qiang and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer concluded high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, January 29, 2026, pledging to deepen economic cooperation through complementary advantages. The discussions marked Starmer's first official visit to China since taking office.
Premier Li emphasized China's readiness to 'improve inter-governmental dialogue mechanisms' and expand collaboration across financial regulation, AI development, and clean energy sectors. 'Frequent exchanges at all levels will help stabilize global supply chains,' Li stated during the meeting.
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The leaders identified advanced manufacturing and digital economy initiatives as key growth areas, with both nations agreeing to align market connectivity strategies. Fifteen cooperation documents were signed post-meeting, spanning agriculture, media regulation, and modern shipping services.
The agreements come as China-UK bilateral trade reached $125 billion in 2025, with both sides aiming to establish joint innovation centers for AI research by late 2026.
