Jan. 28 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing on Wednesday at the head of a 60-strong delegation for a three day official visit aimed at boosting trade and re-engaging with China after almost a decade of wrangling.
Speaking to business and cultural leaders accompanying him at their hotel, Starmer said they were helping "make history" by being part of the change his government was committed to bring about for Britain, a reference to his electoral pledge to do whatever it took to kickstart the country's stagnant economy.
"We are resolute about being outward-looking, about taking opportunities, about building relationships and always being absolutely focused on our national interest," he told the group, which included executives from businesses and organizations ranging from HSBC, Airbus and drug giant GSK to the National Theatre, the Science Museum and Table Tennis England.
With China's economy growing at 5%, compared with Britain's 2025 figure of 1.5%, Starmer is pinning his hopes on some of the gold dust from the Chinese economic miracle rubbing off on the United Kingdom.
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