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 UK–China 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.
This project aims to improve efficiency in the power system and support China's efforts to increase the use of renewable energy, allowing Octopus to tap into China's growing demand for clean energy.
China also agreed to halve tariffs on Scotch whisky, a deal the UK government said could generate £250m for the British economy over the next five years.
Another outcome of the trip was visa-free travel for British citizens visiting China for up to 30 days, enhancing trade relations significantly.
Despite the gains, challenges remain, including ongoing regulatory complexities that foreign businesses face in China. Sir Keir's visit underscores the delicate balancing act of improving ties while navigating geopolitical risks, especially with pressures from the US.
