Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in China for a three-day visit - the first by a British prime minister in eight years.
Sir Keir is seeking to strengthen trading and cultural ties between the two nations after years of acrimony.
But he has faced criticism from opponents at home over the risk posed by China to the UK's national security and Xi Jinping's human rights record.
The PM - who will meet President Xi on Thursday - said the trip will bring benefits to the UK and it was important to maintain a "strategic and consistent relationship" with the world's second largest economy.
As he arrived at the airport in Beijing, Sir Keir was greeted by a delegation of Chinese government officials and presented with a bouquet of flowers. Union flags were seen flying in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
