British Business and Trade Minister Peter Kyle and Chinese officials, including Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, signed various Memorandums of Understanding on Thursday (January 29) following a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China.

China will reduce its tariffs on Scotch whisky to 5% from 10% following talks between Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the British premier's press secretary said on Thursday.

The reduction is a boost for one of Britain's most valued export products in a key growth market, and the press secretary said it was expected to be worth 250 million pounds ($345.35 million) over five years for UK whisky exporters.

China's commerce minister told Britain's trade minister that Beijing is willing to expand goods and services imports from Britain in pursuit of a more sophisticated relationship between the countries.

China is also willing to strengthen trade and economic dialogue with the UK and deepen cooperation in services, investment and finance, Wang told Kyle on Wednesday (January 28), according to a statement released by Wang's ministry on Thursday.

(Production: Amy Pollock, Anita Kobylinska)

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BEIJING, CHINA (JANUARY 29, 2026) (UK POOL - No use UK, except UK newspapers)

1. BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER AND CHINESE PREMIER LI QIANG SITTING DOWN FOR SIGNING CEREMONY HELD AT THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE IN BEIJING

2. STARMER AND LI SITTING

3. VARIOUS OF BRITISH BUSINESS AND TRADE SECRETARY, PETER KYLE, AND CHINESE OFFICIALS INCLUDING COMMERCE MINISTER, WANG WENTAO, SIGNING AGREEMENTS

4. STARMER AND LI SHAKING HANDS AFTER SIGNING CEREMONY, LEAVING

5. SIGN READING (Mandarin and English): “2026 UK – China Business Council”

6. STARMER ARRIVING, SITTING DOWN

7. STARMER GETTING ON STAGE, SHAKING HANDS WITH KYLE

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“I made it a founding principle of my government 18 months ago that Britain would face outward again and reengage with the world because when global events affect everything from prices in the supermarket shelves to the jobs that we create, to how secure we feel, then this is how we deliver for the British people. So I told President Xi, when we met at the G20 in Brazil in 2024 that we want to build a consistent, long term, comprehensive and strategic relationship with China.”

9. ATTENDEES SITTING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“My message this week is very clear: engaging with each other on issues of security and prosperity, and building mutual trust is good for both China and for the United Kingdom. And this is about going beyond surface level pleasantries.”

11. SESSION IN PROGRESS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“I’d like to echo a Chinese phrase which I think captures the essence of what I'm talking about. ‘Pursue common goals whilst preserving differences’. That is what we're working together to achieve. And I want to say that my profound belief is the more we engage, the more we visit each other, discuss, trade, build business links, cultural links, sports links, you name it. That is the way to develop the mutual trust and respect that is so important to the relationship between our two countries as we go forward from here after an eight year absence, eight long years, eight wasted years in many respects.”

13. ATTENDEES LISTENING

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“I look forward to our continuing discussions in the coming days. Thank you, (Mandarin) xiexie.” / AUDIENCE APPLAUDING, STARMER LEAVING STAGE