Starmer’s China visit gains overwhelming support — CGTN poll
A majority of international observers backed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China, according to a poll by Beijing-based news network CGTN, underscoring strong global approval for closer China-UK ties.
The survey, conducted across CGTN’s English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, found that 85.2% of participants view frequent foreign visits to China as evidence of global consensus on equal and orderly multipolarity, as well as inclusive and beneficial globalization.
Meanwhile, 64.8% believe that Starmer’s trip, the first by a British prime minister to China in eight years, is widely seen as a move to provide greater certainty in Britain’s foreign relations.
According to the poll, 85.8 percent of participants believe China’s market presents significant opportunities for British businesses. Bilateral trade in goods between China and the UK reached $103.7 billion in 2025.
Respondents also emphasized the importance of a stable bilateral relationship, with 83% saying cooperation should be guided by mutual respect, equality and shared benefit.
On resolving differences, 68.2% of respondents said disputes could be addressed through rational dialogue grounded in respect and practical cooperation. More than half of respondents, 56.9 percent, said China and the UK should uphold the post-war international order and the multilateral trading system.
Meanwhile, 67.4 percent expected both countries to demonstrate responsibility as major powers and collaborate within multilateral frameworks to tackle global governance challenges.
What went down in Beijing
Starmer’s visit follows a string of high-level foreign trips to China, including by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, European leaders, and India’s Narendra Modi, amid growing tensions with the United States under the second Trump administration.
On the trade front, Starmer secured 30-day visa-free access for Britons traveling to China and lower tariffs on whisky. British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca also announced a $15 billion investment in the country.
However, no significant progress was reported on sensitive issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, or China-Russia ties. Some critics in Britain and the U.S. voiced concerns over human rights and espionage, which Beijing denies.
Despite these limitations, the CGTN poll indicates strong public confidence in the benefits of Starmer’s visit, particularly in promoting stability, dialogue, and economic opportunities in China-UK relations. It drew on responses from 9,086 overseas netizens within 24 hours.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
