The leaders of Britain and China have called for a “comprehensive strategic partnership” to deepen ties at a time of global uncertainty.

He is the first British prime minister to travel to Beijing since Theresa May in 2018.

At the same time it is pursuing a greater trading relationship with China, Starmer's government has been retreating on Chinese national security challenges.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in the Chinese financial center of Shanghai in his bid to boost business opportunities for U.K. firms in the world’s second-largest economy, just hours after President Donald Trump signaled a possible opposition to any deal between Beijing and London.

Keir Starmer explained that Britain supports the “fundamental right” of Greenland and Denmark to decide the future of the Arctic island.

By Kate Holton, Andrew MacAskill and Elizabeth Piper LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - British finance minister Rachel Reeves will accompany Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his trip to China next week, underscoring UK efforts to strengthen ties with the world's second-largest economy at a time of strained transatlantic relations.

U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he hopes to build "more sophisticated" ties with China as the two nations look to revive their bilateral relationship.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that his country doesn't have to choose between relations with the United States and China as he started a four-day trip to China aimed at repairing ties and expanding opportunities for British companies in the world’s second-largest economy.