Chinese Commerce Minister: Hopes the UK will provide a fair, just, and predictable business environment for Chinese companies

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Thursday (January 29) during his meeting with visiting British Trade Minister Peter Kyle that China is willing to expand imports of high-quality products and services from the UK, and hopes that the UK will provide a fair, just, and predictable business environment for Chinese companies.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on its official website that Wang Wentao met with Kyle (Peter Kyle), who was accompanying British Prime Minister Starmer on his visit to China, in Beijing that evening. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on developing China-UK economic and trade cooperation.

Wang Wentao said that China is willing to strengthen economic and trade policy dialogue with the UK, "deepen cooperation in areas such as trade in services, two-way investment, finance, and the digital economy, expand imports of high-quality products and services from the UK, and hopes that the British side will provide a fair, just, and predictable business environment for Chinese companies and protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies."

After the meeting, Wang Wentao and Kyle exchanged views with some representatives of British companies.

Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping that day. Xi Jinping said that China is willing to develop a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership with the UK, and mentioned the implementation of unilateral visa-free entry for British citizens; Starmer called for the establishment of a more mature China-UK relationship.

This was the first visit to China by a British Prime Minister in eight years.