He will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Thursday, before heading to Shanghai on Friday for talks with local executives, as the government attempts to reboot the UK’s relationship with China.
Over 50 British business and cultural leaders have also made the trip, including representatives from HSBC, GSK, Jaguar Land Rover and the Natural History Museum.
But who exactly is on the trip, and why? Read on to find out.
It is Kyle’s second trip in the last five months, as he visited Beijing in September last year shortly after being appointed business secretary.
Ahead of the trip, Mr Kyle said: “For a decade, there has been a lack of serious engagement needed to capitalise on the opportunity of a better relationship with China.
“We want to see trade flourish between us. From financial services to advanced manufacturing and the global energy transition, the UK’s strengths increasingly align with the rapidly evolving Chinese economy.
“The first duty of government is security, and we protect ourselves best through active engagement and pragmatic cooperation, not by shutting the door.”
Ms Rigby said: “The UK’s world-leading financial services sector is a cornerstone of our economy. With deep and liquid markets, and the FTSE hitting all-time highs, there are real opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation with China which supports jobs for working people and growth for businesses across Britain.”
Colm Lacy, British Airways
Ahead of the trip, British Airways Chief Commercial Officer Colm Lacy said: “As the UK’s flag carrier, we are honoured to support the Prime Minister Keir Starmer on this important visit to China.
“British Airways has a longstanding and proud history of connecting people, cultures and businesses around the world, and this trip reflects the vital role we play in fostering those relationships.
“We look forward to continuing to serve the region and further strengthen the connections that bring people together, as well as supporting trade and tourism for many years to come.”
Doug Gurr, Natural History Museum
Doug Gurr, Director at the Natural History Museum, is part of the delegation, as the museum looks to expand its commercial activities in the Chinese market from brand licensing to publishing projects.
Dr Gurr said: “For over 15 years, the Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has toured to multiple locations in China.
“I look forward to building on our existing ties with museum partners in China and to developing new opportunities for collaboration in research, collections, and knowledge exchange.”
Industry leaders and Pharmaceutical executives
The delegation also includes a number of financial industry leaders, including HSBC Group Chairman Brendan Nelson and Aberdeen Group CEO Jason Windsor.
Airbus’s general counsel John Harrison will also join, as will pharmaceutical executives such as AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot and GSK Chair Sir Jonathan Symonds.
They are some of over 50 representatives from business, sport and culture to be accompanying Sir Keir.
On the trip, the Prime Minister and the delegation are expected to push for better co-operation with China in areas that would boost growth in Britain – including the financial services sector, creative industries and life sciences expertise.
China is the world’s second largest economy, and it is the UK’s third largest trading partner, supporting 370,000 British jobs.
Why isn’t Rachel Reeves there?
It was originally reported that Chancellor Rachel Reeves would be accompanying Starmer on the trip, but she is not part of the official delegation.
Sources had claimed that Ms Reeves was to have separate itineraries from the prime minister.
However, when approached for comment, the Treasury office confirmed that as the final schedule for the visit was confirmed, it was agreed that the business delegation would be accompanied by the Business Secretary and the Economic Secretary.
The Chancellor did meet her Chinese Finance Minister counterpart in Davos last week, providing senior level engagement ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.
She met with Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing to strengthen trade, investment, and financial services.
The full travelling delegation:
- Aberdeen Group – Jason Windsor
- AngloAmerican – Stuart Chambers
- Airbus – John Harrison
- Arup – Jerome Frost
- AstraZeneca – Pascal Soriot
- Baker McKenzie – Sunny Mann
- Barclays – Angela Liu
- Birmingham Museums Trust – Sara Wajid
- Bridgepoint Group – Tim Score
- British Airways – Colm Lacy
- Brompton Bikes – William Butler-Adams
- Ceres Power – Warren Finegold
- China Britain Business Council – Sebastian Wood
- Chucklefish – Donna Orlowski
- Clifford Chance – Adrian Cartwright
- CVC – Robert Lucas
- Edinburgh International Book Festival – Jenny Niven
- Feng Ling Productions- Farooq Chaudhry
- Freshfields – Georgia Dawson
- GSK – Sir Jonathon Symonds
- Haleon – Brian McNamara
- Halle – David Butcher
- Heatherwick – Craig Miller
- HSBC – Brendan Nelson
- Holland & Barrett – Anthony Houghton
- Jaguar Land Rover – Pathamadai Balaji
- KPMG – Melissa Geiger
- Mayor of West Midlands – Richard Parker
- Lady Mayor of the City of London – Susan Langley
- Liberty London – Andrea Petochi
- FTSE Russell – Fiona Bassett
- McLaren – Nicholas Collins
- National Galleries of Scotland – Anne Lyden
- National Museums Liverpool – Laura Pye
- National Theatre – Kate Varah
- Natural History Museum – Doug Gurr
- North East Museums – Keith Merrin
- Octopus Energy – Greg Jackson
- Pearson – Omar Abbosh
- Prudential plc – Anil Wadhwani
- PwC – Marco Amitrano
- Relx – YS Chi
- Royal Museums Greenwich – Paddy Rogers
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Sarah Bardwell
- Royal Shakespeare Company – Daniel Evans
- Schroders – Richard Oldfield
- Science Museum Group – Shri Mukundagiri
- Standard Chartered – William Winters
- Table Tennis England – Sally Lockyer
- USTWO Games – Maria Sayans
- V&A Museum – Timothy Reeve
- Visit Britain – Patricia Yates
- World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association – Jason Ferguson
- 8 lions – Jiella Esmat
