Keir Starmer's Visit to Beijing - Corruption in Chinese Football - Work Plan to Boost Service Consumption
Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Friday, January 30, 2026.
Page 1: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing dominates the front page today. The report on Xi Jinping-Starmer meeting says:
“Both sides agreed to develop a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the U.K. President Xi Jinping noted that in a changing and chaotic world, China and the U.K., as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and major economies, need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, both in safeguarding world peace and stability and in delivering growth and prosperity for people in both countries. They need to see history from a broader perspective, rise above differences, respect each other, and turn the vast potential of China-U.K. cooperation into real progress. This will open up new prospects for China-U.K. relations and cooperation, for the good of both peoples and the whole world. President Xi Jinping underlined mutual trust as the foundation for steady and sustainable state-to-state relations. China is always committed to peaceful development, has never started a war, and has never taken an inch of foreign land. No matter how strong and developed China becomes, it will never be a threat to other countries. Traditional Chinese culture values peace and pursues harmony without uniformity. China-U.K. economic and trade ties are mutually beneficial in nature.”
“As China kicks off its 15th Five-Year Plan, the two sides may expand win-win cooperation in the services sector including education, health, and finance, and pursue joint research and commercial application in artificial intelligence, life sciences, new energy, and low-carbon technologies for shared development and prosperity. The U.K. is expected to foster a fair, just, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies. China and the U.K., as countries with rich cultural heritage, have both made significant contributions to the development and progress of humanity. The two sides should enhance people-to-people exchanges and further facilitate two-way travel. More British people from the government, parliament, and subnational entities are welcome to visit China and develop a comprehensive, objective, and correct understanding of China. China will give positive consideration to visa-free access for U.K. travelers.”
“President Xi Jinping pointed out that unilateralism, protectionism, and power politics are running rampant. The international order is under great strain. International law can be truly effective only when all countries abide by it. Major countries in particular should set an example, otherwise the world will revert to the law of the jungle. As supporters of multilateralism and free trade, China and the U.K. should advocate and practice true multilateralism, make the global governance system more just and equitable, and build an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.”
Among other things, Starmer is reported to have said:
On Taiwan, the U.K.’s position is long-standing, well-known, and unchanged. The U.K. would like to maintain high-level engagement with China, enhance dialogue and exchange, and strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, finance, environment, etc.
China plays a vital role in international affairs, and the U.K. would like to strengthen cooperation with China on climate change and other global challenges and jointly uphold world peace and stability.
The U.K. will work with China to promote exchanges between their legislatures and other sectors.
The readout from the British side is brief. It says:
“both leaders affirmed their shared commitment to building a consistent, long-term, and strategic partnership that will benefit both countries. They agreed they would continue to enhance co-operation on areas of mutual interest, while maintaining frank and open dialogue on areas of disagreement. The Prime Minister raised areas of concern to the United Kingdom. Accompanied by a delegation of nearly 60 of Britain’s biggest businesses and cultural organisations on his visit, the Prime Minister added that he hoped new partnerships could be forged and new opportunities unlocked for them in China. Growth and prosperity at home is directly linked to our engagement with the world’s biggest powers abroad, the Prime Minister added.”
Next, let’s look at Starmer’s meeting with Premier Li Qiang. The readout says:
“Li Qiang said that China and the UK’s commitment to openness, cooperation and mutual benefit reflects the will of the people and serves the common interests of both sides. This morning, President Xi Jinping held a meeting with the Prime Minister, providing strategic guidance on developing a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. China is willing to continue to move in the same direction with Britain, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, strengthen strategic communication, consolidate the foundation of mutual trust and deepen cooperation across all fields, promoting the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations. This will not only help the two countries jointly address risks arising from changes in the international landscape and advance common development, but also inject more positive energy into global peace and stability.” 李强表示，中英坚持开放合作、互利共赢是人心所向，符合双方的共同利益。今天上午，习近平主席同首相先生举行会晤，就发展两国长期稳定的全面战略伙伴关系作出战略指引。中方愿同英方继续相向而行，尊重彼此核心利益和重大关切，加强战略沟通，打牢互信基础，深化各领域合作，推动双边关系行稳致远。这不仅有利于两国携手应对国际变局风险、促进共同发展，也将为全球和平稳定注入更多正能量.
“China is ready to work with the British side to improve the inter-governmental dialogue and cooperation mechanism, and conduct exchanges more frequently at all levels and in various fields. Both sides should better leverage their complementary advantages, promote the expansion and upgrading of bilateral trade, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as financial regulation and financial market connectivity, and deepen cooperation in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, the digital economy, and modern shipping services, empowering each other for better development. The Chinese government is committed to providing a favourable environment for companies from all countries, including British companies, to invest in China, and also hopes that the UK will provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing in the UK. Recently, unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic bullying have been rampant internationally. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the UK should demonstrate their responsibilities as major powers, strengthen multilateral communication and coordination, deepen cooperation on issues with significant governance deficits, uphold the authority of the United Nations, safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and promote the international order towards a more just and reasonable direction.” 李强指出，中方愿同英方完善政府间对话合作机制，更加经常性地开展各层级各领域交往。双方要更好发挥互补优势，推动双边贸易扩容提质，加强金融监管、金融市场互联互通等方面交流对接，深化人工智能、先进制造、清洁能源、数字经济、现代航运服务等新兴产业合作，相互赋能、更好发展。中国政府致力于为包括英国企业在内的各国企业来华投资提供良好环境，也希望英方为中国企业赴英投资提供公平、透明、非歧视的营商环境。近段时期，国际上单边主义、保护主义、霸道霸凌大行其道。中英同为联合国安理会常任理事国，应当展现大国担当，加强多边沟通协调，就治理赤字突出的问题深化合作，维护联合国权威，维护多边主义和自由贸易，推动国际秩序朝着更加公正合理的方向发展.
In terms of the deals inked, the report mentions agreements in “economy and trade, agriculture and food, media, education, and market regulation.”
The British government’s website says:
“A new partnership agreed today as part of the Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing will answer calls from British business for clearer rules, better market access and support to grow their sales in China. It will aim to grow partnerships across government and business in the healthcare, financial and professional services, legal services, education and skills sectors. Representatives from many of these sectors have joined the Prime Minister as part of his business delegation to China this week. Today’s agreements will also see China relax visa rules for British citizens – ending the requirement for travel under 30 days and bringing the UK into line with 50 other countries including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan. It will mean people visiting China on business – as well as tourism - will be able to visit China visa-free. The UK and China have also agreed to conduct a ‘feasibility study’ to explore whether to enter negotiations towards a bilateral services agreement. If agreed, this would establish clear and legally binding rules for UK firms doing business in China.”
The list of deals:
Co-operation on Transnational Organised Crime and Illegal Immigration
Establishment of a Bilateral Services Partnership
Joint Feasibility Study for a UK-China Trade in Services Agreement
Co-operation in the Field of Conformity Assessment
Exports from the UK to China
Strengthening the Work of the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission
Co-operation in Domiciliary Services and Sports Industries
Collaboration in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Co-operation on Food Safety, Animal, and Plant Quarantine
Health Co-operation
Finally, there’s a report on Zhao Leji meeting Starmer. Xinhua reports:
Zhao said that “as the world today is undergoing both changes and turbulence, developing sound China-Britain relations is of great contemporary value and global significance. Noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping has maintained communication with Prime Minister Starmer through phone calls and meetings since the Labour Party government took office, steering bilateral relations onto a path of improvement and development, Zhao said China is willing to work with Britain to uphold the definition of bilateral ties as strategic partners and maintain a positive, pragmatic, stable and mutually beneficial direction in ties. He called on the two sides to eliminate disruptions, properly manage differences and ensure the steady and enduring development of bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with Britain to resume normal exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries, Zhao said, adding that China welcomes British parliamentarians to visit and experience a real, multi-dimensional and comprehensive China.”
Wang Yi’s meeting with UK NSA Jonathan Powell is on Page 2. The readout says that the two men discussed the Ukraine war, along with other “international and regional issues of common concern”. Wang told Powell that “amid a complex and volatile international landscape, both sides should all the more uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, work together to address challenges, and jointly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core.”
More than the content per se, the tone of the readout of this meeting is quite striking. For example, Wang’s reported to have told Powell that:
“Prime Minister Keir Starmer, immediately upon his arrival in Beijing, stated that this will be a historic visit. A historic visit should yield historic outcomes. Wang Yi expressed the belief that the important common understandings reached between the leaders of both countries on developing a long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK will inject strong momentum into the institutional exchanges and cooperation across various fields between the two countries, and open a new chapter in China-UK relations.” (My view: It is evident from this who is talking from a position of strength in the relationship. After this context, read what Powell is reported to have said below, and it will underscore the power differential.)
“China is the world’s second-largest economy and a major country with significant influence. The UK and China have not had high-level mutual visits for many years, which is not in the interests of the two peoples. The UK side hopes to take Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China as an opportunity to enhance dialogue and cooperation with China at all levels and in various fields, and to develop a more coherent and comprehensive strategic partnership.”
On Page 3, there’s a report on Li and Starmer’s remarks to the 2026 UK-China Business Council meeting. Li reportedly said that the two countries should “continue to carry forward the ‘ice-breaking spirit’ and tighten their bonds of cooperation. This is not only a rational choice for the two countries to deal with risks and promote development together, but also their due responsibility as responsible major countries to work together on solving global problems.” He then pointed out four areas or the “four new” for businesses to focus:
First, expand the ‘new growth areas’ of bilateral trade, in particular by cultivating trade in services into a new growth point for cooperation.
Second, build ‘new drivers’ for innovation-driven development, seizing the initiative and mutually empowering each other in fields such as AI, clean energy, biomedicine, and high-end manufacturing.
Third, open up a ‘new blue ocean’ for trilateral cooperation, carrying out more cooperation oriented toward global markets, especially markets in countries of the Global South, in order to better achieve win–win and multi-win outcomes.
Fourth, stimulate ‘new vitality’ in people-to-people exchanges, creating more brand projects that are popular with the people of both countries, promoting more frequent people-to-people exchanges, and achieving a double harvest of economic value and mutual understanding.
一是做大双边贸易的“新增量”，特别是把服务贸易培育成新的合作增长点。二是打造创新发展的“新引擎”，在人工智能、清洁能源、生物医药、高端制造等领域把握先机、相互赋能。三是开辟三方合作的“新蓝海”，面向全球特别是南方国家市场开展更多合作，更好实现双赢、多赢。四是激发人文交流的“新活力”，打造更多两国民众喜闻乐见的品牌项目，促进人员交往更加热络，实现经济价值和民心相通的双丰收.
Finally, a couple of brief reports on the first page. First, data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development show that in 2025 around 27,100 old urban residential communities were renovated, benefiting 4.99 million households. This entailed an investment of 133.2 billion yuan. Second, there’s a report informing of the death of Liao Xilong, a former CMC member and former chief of the erstwhile General Logistics Department of the PLA. This SCMP report is useful if you want to read more about Liao’s public life.
Page 3: There’s a brief report on a new work plan to accelerate the cultivation of new growth drivers in service consumption. Xinhua reports:
“Targeting key sectors such as transportation services, domestic services, online audiovisual services, sojourn tourism services, automotive aftermarket and inbound consumption, the plan calls for measures to boost growth by improving service supply, advancing pilot programs, fostering innovative consumption scenarios and strengthening talent development. For potential sectors including performance services, sports event services, and emotion and experience-oriented services, measures will be taken to cultivate new momentum by refining incentive mechanisms, enhancing safety management, fostering high-quality brands, and building supporting platforms, per the plan. It also underscores the need to strengthen policy support by improving standards systems, enhancing credit development, and increasing fiscal and financial support to provide solid safeguards for cultivating new growth points in service consumption. Local governments and relevant departments have been urged to strengthen policy design, innovate support measures, improve the environment for service consumption, and formulate targeted support policies in light of local conditions.”
Page 8: There’s a report (related English report) informing that the Chinese Football Association on Thursday penalised 13 domestic clubs, deducting league ranking points, for the 2026 season as punishment for their involvement in match-fixing, gambling and bribery cases. All the clubs involved, including reigning Chinese Super League champion Shanghai Port and renowned capital franchise Beijing Guoan, will also face hefty fines as part of the penalty. A total of 73 individuals, including former CFA chief Chen Xuyuan and ex-men’s national team coach Li Tie, have been banned for life from participating in any soccer-related activities as a result of their severe violations of league rules and laws.