Keir Starmer has arrived in China, marking the first visit by a British prime minister in eight years, reports PA Media.
A delegation of around 60 representatives from British businesses and cultural institutions is accompanying the prime minister as he continues efforts to build bridges with Beijing, according to The Guardian.
However, concerns over China’s potential threat to national security and Xi Jinping’s human rights record make Starmer’s visit politically sensitive.
Speaking to journalists during the flight to Beijing, the prime minister said:
“The fact that there is opportunity is evidenced by the number of CEOs with us on this flight — we have 60 people coming to explore these opportunities.”
Starmer added that this also reflects domestically in terms of the benefits that return to the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, MI5 Chief Sir Ken McCallum has warned that “Chinese state actors” pose a national security threat to the UK every day.
