Peter Kyle, the UK’s newly appointed business secretary, is scheduled to travel to Beijing this week. This trip aligns with Labour leader Keir Starmer’s objectives to enhance the UK’s trade relationship with China and stimulate economic growth. Kyle’s visit comes after his promotion in a recent government reshuffle and will follow a stop in Washington for discussions related to a forthcoming presidential state visit.
Kyle is expected to meet with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao during the first UK-China joint economic and trade commission (Jetco) meeting in seven years. Previous Jetco summits were discontinued by Boris Johnson in 2019 due to China’s actions in Hong Kong, with subsequent disruption caused by the pandemic.
This visit marks another step in a series of engagements with China by senior UK officials since Labour took power, including visits from Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy earlier this year and last year, respectively. However, due to limited notice and scheduling conflicts, Kyle will likely miss an international trade conference in Xiamen organized by his predecessor.
Approximately 200 British businesses will participate in the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (Cifit), led by James Sassoon. The British Chamber of Commerce in China noted that high-level forums like Jetco are essential for fostering bilateral trade and investment.
Commentators highlight that, despite ongoing visits and commitments, tangible results from these interactions remain questionably low. Some note that the economic outcomes yielded from prior engagements, such as a £600 million investment commitment from China secured by Reeves, have fallen short compared to other countries.
Currently, China stands as the UK’s fifth-largest export market, valued at approximately £41 billion. Observers point out the importance of addressing the relationship with China to support economic growth and job creation in the UK. Additionally, there is an increasing interest in British sports and educational ventures in China, indicating potential areas for future collaboration.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/07/uk-business-secretary-peter-kyle-visit-beijing