British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday for talks he hopes will deepen their economic relationship, signalling a breakthrough in ties after years of distrust and acrimony.

On the most important day of his four-day visit to China, Starmer was greeted by Xi at the Great Hall of the People for a discussion expected to last around 40 minutes, before they lunch together. He will also meet Premier Li Qiang later on Thursday.

Starmer, whose centre-left Labour Party government has struggled to deliver the economic growth it promised, has made improving relations with China one of his priorities in the hope it can yield business opportunities.

“China is a vital player on the global stage and it is vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship,” Starmer told Xi at the start of their meeting.

Xi opened the meeting by saying the relationship with Britain had been through “twists and turns” that did not serve the interests of either country and that China stood ready to develop a long-term strategic partnership.

Starmer’s visit to China, the first by a British prime minister since 2018, comes amid tension between Britain and its longstanding close ally the United States over President Donald Trump’s recent remarks, including threats to take control of Greenland.

Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese studies at King’s College London, said he expected that a number of deals between Britain and China would be announced to show how their relationship has improved.

“This must look like it’s been a success,” he said. “For both sides, they don’t want a meeting which is going to be arguing about things they disagree on.”

European and other Western countries have engaged in a flurry of diplomacy with China as they hedge against unpredictability from the United States under Trump.

Starmer’s visit immediately follows that of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who signed an economic deal with Beijing to tear down trade barriers, drawing Trump’s ire.

China is also eager to mend ties, portraying the relationship with Britain as being at a “pivotal moment”.

“China stands ready to take this visit as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust with Britain, deepen practical cooperation...and together make due efforts and contributions to world peace, security and stability,” the state-run Xinhua news agency said in an editorial on Wednesday.

Seeking a “mature” relationship

Starmer has adopted a new policy of engagement with China after relations deteriorated for years under previous Conservative governments when London restricted some Chinese investment over national security worries and expressed concern over a crackdown on political freedoms in Hong Kong.

“I made the promise 18 months ago when we were elected into government that I would make Britain face outwards again,” Starmer told Xi.

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

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of Britain’s opposition Conservative Party, said on Wednesday that she would not have gone to China because of the security risks the country poses.

British security services have said China routinely spies on the government. China has denied the claims.

Speaking to a delegation of business leaders hours after arriving in the country on Wednesday, Starmer said it was time for a “mature” relationship between Britain and the world’s second-biggest economy.

He then dined at a Chinese restaurant known for its mushroom-laden dishes that also hosted former U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during her 2023 visit. He discussed how to pronounce the Chinese word for thank you - ‘xie xie’ - as he posed for photos with restaurant staff, a video posted on Weibo showed.

In a sign of how the countries can work together, Downing Street said Starmer and Xi would announce that Britain and China would work together to tackle the gangs involved in trafficking illegal migrants.

The deal will be focused on reducing the use of Chinese-made engines for small boats being used to transport people across Europe to claim asylum.

British and Chinese officials will share intelligence to identify smugglers’ supply routes and work with Chinese manufacturers to prevent legitimate businesses from being exploited by organised crime, Downing Street.

Starmer told reporters on the plane to China that he will “raise the issues that need to be raised” on human rights with Xi when asked if he will bring up the case of Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen who was convicted in December of national security crimes.

But the presence of more than 50 business leaders accompanying Starmer and his itinerary shows the priority for this trip is economic ties.