Overview
- Xi Jinping and Keir Starmer agreed to pursue a long-term, stable comprehensive strategic partnership and to strengthen economic cooperation.
- China will lower its import duty on Scotch whisky from 10% to 5%, with the UK projecting about £250 million in benefits over five years.
- Chinese officials said they would actively consider visa-free short stays for British nationals, while the UK touted progress on 30-day visits.
- Starmer was accompanied by more than 50 business leaders, met Premier Li Qiang, and announcements included AstraZeneca’s plan to invest about $15 billion in China by 2030.
- The outreach drew a rebuke from US President Donald Trump, who warned that closer UK–China ties are “very dangerous.”