UK's Starmer leads secretive trade mission to Beijing with 50+ business leaders
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has led a high-profile trade delegation to Beijing, accompanied by over 50 British business leaders. The visit aims to strengthen economic ties between the UK and China. However, many of the participating companies have remained tight-lipped about their involvement.
The delegation includes executives from major City firms such as Clifford Chance, PwC, and Freshfields. Georgia Dawson, senior partner at Freshfields, described the trip as a chance to address global client challenges. Richard Oldfield of Schroders called it an honour and emphasised the firm's long-standing commitment to China.
Aberdeen, another participant, has invested in Chinese markets for more than three decades. The firm manages equity and bond strategies in the region. Meanwhile, Sally Locker, chief executive of Table Tennis England, welcomed the opportunity to engage with Chinese and Japanese communities and promote active lifestyles.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is also part of the trip, highlighting its upcoming Matilda The Musical tour in China. Running from February to August, the production is expected to attract over 250,000 spectators. The RSC stressed the importance of sharing British theatre globally while supporting UK jobs.
Despite the delegation's size, most of the 53 companies contacted by City AM refused to comment. Concerns over commercial sensitivity, strained UK-China relations, and potential political backlash led many to stay silent.
The trade mission underscores the UK's efforts to maintain economic links with China despite rising tensions. While some businesses openly discussed their involvement, others chose caution. The trip's long-term impact on UK-China trade relations remains to be seen.
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