Starmer and Xi signal reset in ties

To better relations: Xi and Starmer shaking hands before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — Pool/AFP

British Prime Minis­ter Keir Star­mer told Chinese President Xi Jinping that he wanted to build a “sophistica­ted relationship” with Beijing to boost the UK economy, signalling a reset after years of strained ties.

On the key day of his four-day visit to China, the first by a British prime minister in eight years, Starmer held an 80-minute summit with Xi at the Great Hall of the People before they lunched together.