UK and China Seek to Revive “Golden Era” Business Ties Ahead of Starmer’s Beijing Visit

Britain and China are preparing to relaunch high-level business dialogue as Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans a visit to Beijing next week, aiming to reset strained relations and revive what both sides once called a «golden era» of cooperation. According to sources cited by Reuters, the visit is expected to coincide with the revival of a UK–China business council involving senior executives from major British firms such as AstraZeneca, BP, HSBC and Rolls-Royce, alongside Chinese companies including Bank of China, China Mobile and BYD.

Starmer’s trip would be the first by a British prime minister since 2018 and marks a shift after years of cooling ties over security and infrastructure concerns. Talks on the revamped council have gained momentum recently, though plans remain sensitive to wider geopolitical tensions and final approvals in London. The UK government is expected to confirm the visit and its agenda in the coming days.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the European Parliament has formally suspended the ratification of a U.S.–EU trade deal in response to President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 10% tariffs on EU exports unless the bloc agrees to his demand to take control of Greenland.