Starmer says 'good progress' on tariffs and visa-free travel in China talks

Sir Keir Starmer has said he made "good progress" on tariffs and visa-free travel to China in his meeting with President Xi Jinping.

The prime minister said he had also raised contentious issues including the jailing of pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai and the treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.

Sir Keir is the first UK prime minister to visit the country in eight years, as the government seeks closer trade ties with Beijing.

However, critics have argued the UK should have a more cautious relationship with China because of the risk to national security and the country's human rights record.

Speaking after the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing - which lasted around an hour and 20 minutes - Sir Keir said the pair had discussed how "huge opportunities" in China could benefit people in the UK.

"We made some really good progress on tariffs for whisky, on visa-free travel to China and on information exchange and co-operation on irregular migration, focusing particularly on small boats and engine parts," he said.

"So a very good, constructive meeting with real outcomes - and that's very much in our national interest."

In its own readout of the meeting, China said it was willing to "actively consider" implementing unilateral visa-free entry for the UK.

Beijing has already dropped visa requirements for 70 countries but British passport holders need a visa to visit the country.

Under an agreement expected to be signed later, UK and Chinese law enforcement will cooperate to disrupt the supply of small boat engines and equipment used by criminal gangs to help migrants cross the Channel.

Last year more than 60% of engines used by smuggling gangs were found to be branded as Chinese-manufactured.

Asked if he had raised issues including the case of Lai and treatment of the Uyghurs, Sir Keir said: "We raised those issues, as you would expect.

"Part of the rationale for engagement is to make sure that we can both seize the opportunities that are available, which is what we've done, but also have a mature discussion about issues that we disagree on."

Sir Keir has travelled to Beijing with a delegation of British business and cultural leaders.

At the start of his meeting with Xi, the PM said he wanted a "more sophisticated" relationship with China.

Stressing the benefits at home of closer ties, he said: "I made the promise 18 months ago when we were elected into government that I would make Britain face outwards again.

"Because as we all know, events abroad affect everything that happens back in our home countries, from prices on the supermarket shelves to how secure we feel."

Meanwhile, President Xi said UK-China relations had gone through "some twists and turns that did not serve the interests of our countries".

He argued dialogue between the UK and China was "imperative" in a "turbulent and fluid" world.

He praised previous Labour governments for making "important contributions to the growth of China-UK relations" and told Sir Keir the two men would "stand the test of history" if they could "rise above differences".

"Sometimes good things take time," he said.

"As long as it is the right thing that serves the fundamental interests of the country and the people, then as leaders we should not shy away from difficulties and we should press ahead fortitude."

The president quoted a Chinese proverb: "Range far your eye over long distances".

Mentioning the upcoming Chinese new year, he said Sir Keir's visit was "a sign of auspiciousness".

Following the meeting, as a gift, Sir Keir gave President Xi a football used during last weekend's Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal.

The PM is a keen Arsenal fan, while the president reportedly supports Manchester United.

The trip comes at a time of heightened trade tensions after US President Donald Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Canada for signing a "strategic partnership" with China.

The visit has been criticised by opposition parties, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch saying she would not be going to China at this time if she was PM.

She argued the UK should be talking to countries "who are aligned with our interests, not the country that is doing everything it can to undermine our economy".

The Liberal Democrats said the government's approach to China had been "all give and no take" and urged the PM to tell President Xi the UK would not tolerate China's political interference and repression of Hong Kong activists in the UK.

The visit comes less than two weeks after the government gave the go-ahead to controversial plans for a huge new Chinese embassy in London.

The issue reignited fears about the risk of Chinese espionage, with opponents warning the embassy could be used as a base for spying.

Members of the UK team in China are using burner phones and temporary email addresses amid security fears.