"Sir Keir Starmer's visit to China this week is the clearest sign yet the two countries are seeking to end the diplomatic "ice age" that has defined their relationship. Both leaders face economic pressures at home and are seeking new opportunities for trade and investment. For Sir Keir, the first UK prime minister to visit China since Theresa May in 2018, the trip was a chance to highlight the strength of British firms in finance, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, clean energy and car making. President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, aimed to show that China can be a reliable partner for Western economies, as US President Donald Trump continues to rattle the global trading system."
"Although no sweeping free trade deal was reached, the visit marked a cautious but tangible reset of UKChina economic ties. Agreements on visas, services, healthcare, green technology and finance, combined with revived dialogue, might lead to better access for British firms to Chinese markets and greater Chinese investment in the UK. The biggest commercial announcement came from AstraZeneca, which promised to invest $15bn (11bn) in China over the next four years, to expand research and the manufacturing of medicines the company's biggest investment in China to date."
"In the energy sector, British firm Octopus Energy is entering the Chinese market for the first time through a partnership with local company PCG Power to develop a digital platform for trading electricity. The project aims to improve efficiency in the power system and support China's efforts to increase the use of renewable energy. For Octopus, which has grown quickly in the UK, the deal allows entry into China's large and growing energy market, where demand for clean energy and digital trading is rising. Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy who was part of the UK's business delegation to China flagged that the country's scale and innovation have made solar, wind energy and bat"
Sir Keir Starmer traveled to China to pursue a cautious reset of UK–China economic ties amid domestic economic pressures and global trading uncertainty. Both sides highlighted British strengths in finance, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, clean energy and car making while seeking new trade and investment opportunities. Agreements covered visas, services, healthcare, green technology and finance, and revived dialogue may improve UK firm access to Chinese markets and boost Chinese investment in the UK. AstraZeneca pledged $15bn to expand research and manufacturing in China. Octopus Energy partnered with PCG Power to deploy a digital electricity trading platform supporting renewables and system efficiency.
Read at www.bbc.com
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