Britain and China are preparing to revive a high-level business dialogue that both sides once described as a “golden era” of relations, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans a visit to Beijing next week. The initiative marks the first visit by a British leader since 2018, when relations were far warmer and structured economic engagement was encouraged at the highest political level.
The renewed effort comes after years of deterioration in UK–China ties, particularly under Conservative governments that adopted a more security-focused and sceptical approach toward Beijing.
The Revived UK–China Business Council
At the centre of the initiative is a revamped UK–China CEO Council, originally launched in 2018 by then-Prime Minister Theresa May and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The council was designed to deepen bilateral trade and investment through direct engagement between top political leaders and major corporations.
British companies expected to be involved include:
- AstraZeneca
- BP
- HSBC
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Rolls-Royce
- Schroders
- Standard Chartered
- InterContinental Hotels Group
On the Chinese side, companies are expected to include:
- Bank of China
- China Construction Bank
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
- China Mobile
- China Rail and Rolling Stock Corporation
- China National Pharmaceutical Group
- BYD
However, attendance remains uncertain, with some CEOs reportedly declining due to doubts over whether the visit will go ahead.
Political Sensitivities and Ongoing Negotiations
Although discussions have been underway for some time, talks reportedly gained momentum only after Britain approved China’s plan to build its largest embassy in Europe in London earlier this week. Even so, key details remain unresolved, including the council’s official English-language name.
The British government is reportedly reluctant to retain the word “CEO”, while the Chinese side intends to keep the same Chinese terminology used in 2018 highlighting subtle but important differences in political messaging.
Notably absent from the revamped council are firms such as Huawei and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN), which were part of the original group but are now politically sensitive due to UK concerns over critical infrastructure and national security.
External Risks to the Visit
Sources cautioned that U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating dispute over Greenland could derail Starmer’s visit. Given the fragile state of transatlantic relations, British officials appear wary of pursuing closer economic engagement with China at a moment when U.S.–Europe tensions are intensifying.
The British government could formally announce Starmer’s visit and schedule as early as Friday, though many elements remain fluid.
Back to the Future: Resetting UK-China Relations
Starmer’s visit signals an attempt to reset relations after a period in which Britain moved from being one of China’s strongest supporters in Europe to one of its most vocal critics.
In a speech last year, Starmer criticised Conservative governments for allowing relations with Beijing to deteriorate, contrasting Britain’s absence with the repeated visits made by French and German leaders since 2018. His argument reflects a belief that Britain has fallen behind other European powers in managing pragmatic engagement with China.
Relations soured notably after:
- The UK banned Huawei from its 5G network in 2020
- British lawmakers forced a buyout of CGN’s stake in a nuclear project in 2022
These moves entrenched distrust and limited economic cooperation.
Analysis
The attempt to revive the “golden era” business dialogue reflects a pragmatic recalibration rather than a full rapprochement between Britain and China. Starmer’s approach appears to prioritise economic engagement while stopping short of reversing security-driven restrictions imposed in recent years.
The selective inclusion of companies illustrates this balancing act. Britain is signalling openness to trade, finance, and manufacturing cooperation, while maintaining red lines around critical infrastructure and strategic technologies. This mirrors a broader European trend of “de-risking” rather than decoupling from China.
Politically, the initiative also highlights Britain’s desire to reclaim diplomatic relevance. As France and Germany have maintained regular high-level contact with Beijing, London risks marginalisation if it remains absent from major economic dialogues involving the world’s second-largest economy.
However, the fragility of the visit vulnerable to unrelated disputes such as Trump’s Greenland ambitions underscores how great-power competition increasingly constrains middle-power diplomacy. Britain’s effort to reset ties with China must navigate not only domestic political sensitivities but also pressure from allies, particularly the United States.
In essence, the revived council represents a cautious attempt to reopen economic channels without reopening strategic vulnerabilities, signalling a more nuanced and interest-driven UK foreign policy under Starmer rather than a return to the uncritical optimism of the original “golden era.”
With information from Reuters.
