Starmer Visits China to Strengthen Ties Amidst Corruption Crackdown
Beijing, China - United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer concluded a three-day state visit to China on Thursday, January 29, 2026, seeking to "bring stability and clarity to the UK's approach to Beijing," according to The Guardian. This marks the first trip by a UK prime minister to China since Theresa May's visit in 2018, as reported by Al Jazeera. Starmer's visit aims to deepen economic and security ties with China, the world's second-largest economy, after years of strained relations.
During the visit, Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss matters of mutual interest. The Guardian noted that China is now central to the world's green technology and economic future, making the UK's strategic discussions with the nation crucial.
The visit occurred amidst a significant anti-corruption crackdown within Chinese football. Al Jazeera reported that the Chinese Football Association issued lifetime bans to 73 individuals, including former national team head coach Li Tie, who is already serving a 20-year sentence for bribery. Additionally, 13 top professional clubs were punished for match-fixing and corruption. This crackdown, under President Xi Jinping, has exposed widespread corruption within the professional game in recent years, according to Al Jazeera.
In other news from the region, Venezuela is reportedly considering economic reforms modeled after China's post-Mao boom. The Guardian highlighted that Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez is being compared to Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China's economic reforms.
Meanwhile, in Hungary, American actor Rob Schneider endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a video shared on Orban's X account, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment