Britain and China are preparing to revive a high-level business dialogue once described as a “golden era” initiative during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s planned visit to Beijing next week. Senior business leaders from both countries are expected to take part in renewed talks aimed at resetting economic relations.
Several major British companies are expected to participate in a revamped UK–China business council, originally launched in 2018 to promote bilateral trade and investment. Chinese representation is also expected to include leading firms from sectors such as banking, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and electric vehicles.
The dialogue was conceived during a period of warmer relations between London and Beijing, but ties later cooled amid political and security concerns. Starmer’s visit would be the first by a British prime minister since 2018 and is intended to signal a pragmatic re-engagement with the world’s second-largest economy.
Discussions on the structure and naming of the revived council are still ongoing, and final details of the visit are being confirmed. Despite lingering sensitivities around critical infrastructure and technology, both sides see the initiative as an opportunity to stabilize relations and expand economic cooperation.