The Prime Minister’s voice resonated through the aircraft, surprising me as we traversed the Gobi desert in a state of sleep deprivation.
Humorously, he announced, “Sit back, enjoy the rest of the flight, I’ll be bringing the plane in from here,” though Keir Starmer wasn’t actually piloting the plane. As he engaged with journalists in the cramped space near an emergency exit, the atmosphere was lively.
Facing a high-stakes journey to China, Starmer must navigate skillfully to ensure a successful outcome. Avoiding specific details about his meeting with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, Starmer’s visit signifies a pivotal moment in thawing the frosty relations that existed under previous Conservative administrations.
Previously encountering President Xi at a summit in 2024 and having past experiences in China as a lawyer, the Prime Minister now faces a delicate balancing act during this official visit.
Drawing parallels to a tense trip to meet Donald Trump in Washington last year, Starmer’s current visit to China holds immense significance. Focused on enhancing economic ties with the second-largest global economy, Starmer’s delegation includes business leaders and cultural representatives advocating for British creative industries.
While emphasizing the importance of addressing pertinent issues, Starmer could potentially confront President Xi on various contentious topics such as human rights violations, anti-democratic measures, national security concerns, and Chinese involvement in Ukraine.
Notably, Starmer mentioned a discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, hinting at potential consequential outcomes when the two leaders meet.
Covering political affairs since 2017, Lizzy Buchan is the Political Editor at the Mirror, overseeing a dedicated team reporting on Westminster-related news and stories of national significance. As a seasoned political journalist, Buchan joined the Mirror in 2020, bringing her expertise from previous roles at The Independent and the Press Association.