Starmer Arrives In Shanghai To Boost U.K. Business Ties

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Shanghai on Friday leading a delegation of nearly 60 business and cultural representatives, including executives from HSBC, GSK and Jaguar Land Rover, Downing Street said.

Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping for an 80-minute summit at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Thursday and agreed to pursue a 'comprehensive strategic partnership,' Downing Street said.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned in Washington that a U.K.-China deal would be 'very dangerous for them to do that' and said 'You can't look at China as the answer,' signaling possible U.S. opposition, officials said.

Downing Street said anticipated measures included a visa waiver for British tourists and business travellers, a $15 billion AstraZeneca investment in China and a pact to disrupt trade in Chinese boat engines used by Channel smugglers.

Starmer planned further business talks in Shanghai later Friday and his office said additional agreements were expected, while some critics and U.S. officials expressed concern about expanding economic ties, according to officials.