By Helen-Ann Smith, Asia correspondent

Let's be frank, in China the UK is not seen as a particularly big or important player.

It's seen as a middling power at best, one that does have some advantages to offer, particularly in the service and knowledge economies, but one that has a greatly diminished global impact, particularly in the post-Brexit years.

Add to that ten years of flip-flopping on China policy, very limited outreach and increasingly hawkish attitudes both in the British parliament and the general public, and it's hardly surprising that China didn't roll out the full five-star treatment for Starmer that it does with some visiting leaders.

But despite all that there were plenty of signs that the Chinese are happy to have a British prime minister here, not least for the optics.

Much of what was said for the cameras at least was notable for its optimism, even warmth and there's a sense the Chinese do see this as a moment of reset and smell genuine opportunity.

The deals done

In terms of the specifics of deals that were done, the Chinese releases didn't include masses of detail, but there was a sense progress was made.

They spoke about a hope for further cooperation on education, healthcare and financial services and the potential for joint research into future reaching areas like AI, biosciences, new energy and low carbon technology.

This looks like a win for both sides; services are the UK's most important export to China, while China is the world leader in manufacturing green energy technologies and is on the constant hunt for expanded markets in which to sell them.

The stickier points

It's clear some trickier things came up in the room too, things on which China wants to control the narrative.

On Taiwan, there was a reaffirmation from the UK that it's position "remains unchanged and will not change". 

Taiwan is a self-governing island that China sees as it's own and officially most countries, including the UK, do not recognise it as an independent entity - getting nations to publicly restate this is hugely important to China.

And we know Keir Starmer had promised to raise the case of Jimmy Lai, the jailed Hong Kong democracy campaigner. 

In the Chinese read out it said simply that the two had agreed that "Hong Kong's prosperity and stability are in the common interest of both countries" - that's probably China-speak for 'it came up and we're not budging'.

The wider picture

But perhaps the most interesting takeaways were the not-so-subtle hints dropped about the other major power at play in this dynamic - the United States.


"Unilateralism, protectionism, and power politics has been rampant" and that times are currently "turbulent and fluid".

Indeed, from the Chinese perspective, today mattered not because of what was achieved but because of who was watching.

The optics of the British prime minister being here, re-vamping this relationship, at exactly the moment that Donald Trump is seriously disrupting traditional transatlantic partnerships is exquisite for the Chinese.

Indeed, under President Xi, China has long nurtured  the narrative that it is, in fact, the world's most reliable superpower, that countries should look to it, and not the US for stable global leadership. 

The current chaos being sown by Trump and the list of European powers knocking down China's door very much helps with that sell.

China doesn't expect sudden changes of allegiance, but they do think the whole situation brings opportunity.

In his opening remarks today Xi Jinping quoted from a Chinese Proverb written by Chairman Mao: "Range far your eyes over long vistas", the inference being that it's best to step back, consider the bigger picture and not get too districted by short term gains or losses.

China always plays the long and strategic game. 

Be in no doubt, rekindling a relationship with this, middling power is part of that.

 We have been covering some of the major national announcements from Sir Keir Starmer's trip to Beijing so far.

But the prime minister's delegation also features local leaders, including the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker.

Speaking from China to Sky's Gareth Barlow, Parker expressed the importance of having regional representation on the trip.

"This is the first step in building on what needs to be a mutually beneficial relationship," he said.

"But I've had discussions today with businesses investing in the West Midlands, in the region I represent, and we're having further discussions during the course of tomorrow to build on those. 

"And I look forward to making some announcements in the near future, about that investment and that joint working.

"Our region is the second-biggest exporter to China of all the regions in the UK - China is very important to us and the businesses that I represent. 

"And I'm really keen to do all I can to foster good working relationships."

The Liberal Democrats have hit out at the prime minister over his visit to China, saying that he "needs to be firm" with Xi Jinping.

Sir Keir Starmer and Business Secretary Peter Kyle have announced that the UK has signed 10 agreements with Beijing today, covering a range of issues including UK exports, technical education and training, food safety and the establishment of a bilateral services partnership.

But Calum Miller, the Lib Dems' foreign affairs spokesperson, has warned the PM needs to be tougher. 

He said: "Many British firms and universities want Chinese business, but the British public also wants to know the PM is standing up for our national security. 

"Starmer's approach is all give and no take. 

"He needs to be firm with Xi that China must stop intimidating and threatening its critics here in the UK and re-set its draconian policies in Hong Kong."

Starmer has said he "raised" the issue of Jimmy Lai and human rights with his Chinese counterpart, but declined to go into more detail.

A little earlier this morning, we brought you the news that big-time Arsenal fan, Sir Keir Starmer, has gifted Xi Jinping a football. 

But not just any ball.

As in our 9am post, we reported that the Chinese president was given the match ball from Arsenal's game against Manchester United on Sunday. 

Apparently, the Chinese leader is a big fan of United - though when he came to the UK in 2015, then-PM David Cameron took him for a tour of Manchester City Football Academy, instead.

Regardless, the ball from a game where Xi's team beat Starmer's 3-2 - in a game the PM attended in person - seems a fitting present.

Anyway - we now know what the prime minister has received in return.

The Chinese president has gifted Starmer a copper statue of a horse, Downing Street has said.

Meanwhile, Xi's number two - Premier Li Qian - has given the PM three kinds of flutes.

The prime minister is said to be a talented flautist and played abroad in the Croydon Youth Philharmonic Orchestra as a child.

He's also able to play the violin, piano and recorder.

Of course, perhaps the real gift from China is the 10 agreements the UK has signed, visa-free travel for Britons and the ability for Starmer to return to the UK claiming he's brought home the goods.

The government has restated its rejection of the campaign from women who claimed they were owed billions after their state pensions age was changed.

The Women Against State Pensions Inequality - Waspi - campaign has lobbied extensively after claiming they were not given sufficient warning of the state pension age for women being lifted to be in line with men from 60 to 65.

Having rejected this claim in December 2024, the government announced a review in November last year when it would consider new evidence.

The Waspi argument centres on the claim the change of pension age was done too quickly, leaving some women financially unprepared to cope with the number of years when they were no longer able to claim their state pension.

The government said in December that they would not be compensated, because most women knew the changes were coming.

Around 3.6 million women were impacted by the change to the state pension age. The government has previously said compensating them could cost up to £10.5bn.

Women born between April 1951 and 1960 were impacted.

The changes were first announced in the 1995 Pensions Act, with a target to equalise male and female pensions by 2020.

In 2011, this was sped up to 2018.

Pensions minister Pat McFadden announced the government's restated rejection in the Commons on Thursday afternoon, saying such a compensation scheme would not be "practical or fair".

Waspi campaign responds

Angela Madden, chair of the Waspi campaign, said: "Ministers have demonstrated their utter contempt for 1950s-born women, for parliament and for the parliamentary ombudsman. 

"The government has kicked the can down the road for months, only to arrive at exactly the same conclusion it has always wanted to. 

"This is a disgraceful political choice by a small group of very powerful people who have decided the harm and injustice suffered by millions of ordinary women simply does not matter."

She added that the campaign is taking legal advice and "all options remain on the table".

Sir Keir Starmer has told business representatives that he wants a more "sophisticated relationship" with China - drawing on a Chinese story.

The PM has been addressing the UK-China Business Council alongside Premier Li Qian this evening (yes, evening in China).

It comes as the UK government announced Britons will now be able to travel to China for up to 30 days without a visa, brining the UK in line with around 50 other nations.

Starmer has brought almost 60  British business representatives along to Beijing, and the council was joined by Chinese CEOs and chairs of leading companies as well.

He told the audience: "President Xi tells the story of blind men being presented with an elephant.

"One touches the leg and thinks it's a pillow, another feels the belly and thinks it's a wall.

"And too often this reflects how China is seen. 

"But I profoundly believe that with broader and deeper engagement, which we've been talking about all this week, is our way of seeing the whole elephant and therefore building a more sophisticated relationship fit for these times."

The PM added: "I would like to echo a Chinese phrase, which I think captures the essence of what I'm talking about: pursue common goals whilst reserving differences. 

"That's what we are working together to achieve."

Earlier in the day, the boss of AstraZeneca, Sir Pascal Soriot, used the council to announce his company will be investing 100bn yuan (£10.4bn) into China by 2030.

The government has also signed 10 agreements with China today, which cover issues including illegal migration, exports to China, vocational training and food safety.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the visit is a "springboard into a future with far more action to come".

Sir Keir Starmer has been given a ceremonial welcome at Beijing's Great Hall of The People, as his visit to China continues. 

This morning (around 2am UK time), the PM had his all-important meeting with Xi Jinping, the country's president - where they discussed a whole range of issues.

Starmer then toured the Forbidden City, once home to China's emperors.

Now, he's been welcomed by a military band who played God Save The King and China's national anthem, March of The Volunteers. 

Starmer also met with China's second-most influential politician, Premier Li Qian.

The pair began by inspecting an honour guard made of up around 140 members of the Chinese army, navy and air force.

At the beginning of the meeting, Li announced that the British and Chinese people both want "open cooperation" between their countries.

He also praised the PM's effort to improve relations between the UK and China, saying this has been "widely welcomed".

Li said it shows "open cooperation and mutual benefit is what the people want".

He added: "It also serves the shared interest of us both.

"The more we are in a changing world, the more valuable such stability is".

Meanwhile, the PM insisted that he wanted to "find ways to work together in a manner which is fit for these times".

He explained: "This means being more open and frank, to deal directly with difficulties, and it also means recognising and respecting modern China in all its vastness and complexity, for everything it has achieved and as a power whose fortunes directly affect the United Kingdom."

Next up on the PM's agenda is the UK-China Business Council.

Starmer is speaking to the almost 60 business representatives which he flew over with, along with Chinese company owners and CEOs.

The five-day trip is all about drumming up more trade between the two countries in a bid to boost economic growth. 

Downing Street is hopeful it will be able to announce more deals in the coming days. 

Sir Keir Starmer had a substantive conversation about the issue of human rights abuses during his meeting with Xi Jinping, Paste BN understands.

The PM already told journalists that he "raised" the issue of imprisoned British citizen and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai.

But it's now understood that this wasn't a fleeting moment, but a substantive discussion, which the Chinese leadership engaged with proportionately.

It's also thought the reason the meeting ran over - ending up being almost double the intended length - was because a number of issues were raised and explored in detail.

It's also understood that the two men discussed the war in Ukraine, and that both agreed the conflict needs to end. 

China has been a tacit supporter of Russian actions in Ukraine, helping with supplies and funding, such as by buying Russian oil.

But it's believed that both men stressed their desire for the war to conclude.

The prime minister will maintain a "frank and open dialogue on areas of disagreement" with his Chinese counterpart, Number 10 has said. 

It follows Sir Keir Starmer telling journalists a little earlier that he "raised" issues around British citizen and imprisoned pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai with Xi Jinping.

Now, the read-out of the PM's meeting with the Chinese president has been released.

It adds that Starmer thanked Xi for a "warm welcome to China" and both "affirmed their shared commitment to build a consistent, long-term and strategic partnership".

The statement continues: "They agreed they would continue to enhance co-operation on areas of mutual interest, while maintaining frank and open dialogue on areas of disagreement. 

"The prime minister raised areas of concern to the United Kingdom."

Those areas of concern will include Lai, but also China's tacit support for Russia's war against Ukraine, and human rights abuses against the Uygher ethnic group in the Xinjiang region of China.

The read-out concludes: "The prime minister added that he hoped new partnerships could be forged, and new opportunities unlocked for them [British businesses] in China.

"Growth and prosperity at home is directly linked to our engagement with the world's biggest powers abroad, the prime minister added."