Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has touched down in Beijing, marking the first visit by a UK Prime Minister to China in eight years. His arrival was met with a ceremonial guard of honour, setting the tone for what promises to be a significant diplomatic trip.

This visit is part of a broader five-day tour of the region, during which Prime Minister Starmer will engage in high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The discussions, scheduled for Thursday, will cover crucial topics such as trade, investment, and national security.

He is due to meet President Xi Jinping on Thursday for discussions on trade, investment and national security.

He will then travel to Shanghai where he will be joined by Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle and Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby.

The Prime Minister warned on Tuesday that cutting ties with China would be a “dereliction of duty” as he defended his trip there.

He has been accused of kowtowing to Beijing to avoid upsetting President Xi.

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The PM faced calls last week to confront Xi Jinping over spying allegations when he comes face-to-face with the leader.

It comes after the trial of two men accused of spying for Beijing collapsed in September.

The Government then approved controversial plans for China to build a mega embassy in central London last week.

Kemi Badenoch said she would not be going to China, as Sir Keir Starmer has done, if she was the prime minister.

Taking questions from journalists after making a speech on Wednesday morning, the Conservative leader said: “You asked, would I be going to China?

“No, not now, because I don’t think that this is the time to do that. We need to be talking to those other countries who are worried about the threat China is posing to them.”

She added: “We should be talking more to those countries who are aligned with our interests, not the country that is doing everything it can to undermine our economy.

“I think that that is what the Prime Minister should be talking about and he needs to show strength, not approving a super-embassy which many people think is going to become a spy hub.

“He looks like he gives way every time things get difficult and that is the difference between Keir Starmer and myself.”

Mrs Badenoch had earlier said she was “worried about what he’s going to be doing when he gets to China”.

She added: “He’s probably going to give away the Isle of Wight before he comes back. Let’s have an actual foreign policy, one that is rooted in realism and focusing on Britain’s national interest.”

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