Britain`s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a bilateral meeting during his visit to China, in Beijing, China, January 29, 2026. (Photo by Reuters)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a "comprehensive strategic partnership," presenting deeper UK-China cooperation as a counterweight to US-driven confrontation, trade disruption, and what both leaders warned is a growing erosion of the global rules-based order.

Starmer and Xi met Thursday in Beijing and jointly called for a "comprehensive strategic partnership" at a moment of heightened global instability, as US President Donald Trump continues to destabilize international relations and global trade.

In a sign of growing unease among US allies over Washington`s disruptive global agenda, Starmer, leader of the center-left Labour Party, framed deeper cooperation with Beijing as a necessity rather than a choice.

"I think that working together on issues like climate change, global stability during challenging times for the world is precisely what we should be doing as we build this relationship in the way that I`ve described," Starmer told Xi.

The meeting took place in the Great Hall of the People as London and Beijing attempt to reset relations after years of tension driven by accusations of Chinese espionage in Britain, China`s backing of Russia in the Ukraine war, and Beijing`s alleged crackdown in Hong Kong.

Starmer, the first British prime minister to visit the country in eight years, said it had "been far too long" since such a visit and added that international engagement is essential to domestic stability.

"I made a promise 18 months ago when we were elected into government, that I would make Britain face outward 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," the British prime minister noted, arguing that international engagement is essential to domestic stability.

Starmer`s government has struggled to deliver promised growth and ease a cost-of-living crisis, prompting him to bring more than 50 senior business executives and cultural leaders to expand commercial opportunities in China.

Calling on Britain and China, Xi, for his part, stressed that both countries should join forces to advocate and practice true multilateralism, emphasizing that international law can only be truly effective when all countries abide by it.

The Chinese president added that, especially, the world`s major powers must set the example, warning that failure to do so could push the international system back toward the "law of jungle."

"China-UK relations experienced setbacks in previous years, which was not in the interests of either country. In the current complex and ever-changing international situation, ... China and the UK need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to maintain world peace and stability," Xi stressed.

The push comes as Trump`s disruption of global trade forces governments to seek alternatives to US unpredictability.

Starmer is the fourth leader of a US ally to visit Beijing this month, and his trip includes agreements such as cooperation to block Chinese-made boat engines - used by smugglers crossing the English Channel - from reaching criminal networks.