UK Signals Push for Expanded Services Access to China After Starmer–Xi Talks
London pledges deeper engagement on finance, legal and professional services as bilateral economic reset gathers pace
The United Kingdom has pledged to seek wider access for its services sector in China following high-level talks between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping, marking a central pillar of efforts to reset bilateral economic relations.
The commitment emerged from Starmer’s visit to Beijing, during which both leaders agreed to pursue a more structured and pragmatic partnership focused on trade, investment and long-term stability.
British officials said services liberalisation would be a priority area, reflecting the UK economy’s strengths in finance, insurance, law, consulting, education and creative industries.
Government sources indicated that the two sides had agreed to begin a feasibility study on a potential services agreement, aimed at easing regulatory barriers and improving market access for British firms operating in China.
Services account for around eighty per cent of the UK economy and represent one of the country’s most competitive export sectors, yet access to the Chinese market has long been constrained by licensing rules and regulatory complexity.
The talks also covered cooperation on financial stability, green finance and capital markets, with both governments expressing interest in supporting cross-border investment.
Starmer described the discussions as constructive and outcome-focused, arguing that a clearer framework for services trade would benefit both economies and support growth.
Chinese officials framed the engagement as part of a broader effort to promote openness and mutually beneficial cooperation with major trading partners, particularly as global economic conditions remain uncertain.
The move follows other tangible outcomes from the visit, including commitments on visas and tariff reductions, reinforcing the economic dimension of the diplomatic reset.
While no binding agreement has yet been concluded, UK ministers said the pledge to advance services access represents a meaningful step toward translating political dialogue into commercial opportunity.
As technical talks are expected to begin in the coming months, businesses and investors will be watching closely to see whether the renewed momentum leads to concrete improvements in market access and regulatory transparency for UK service providers in China.
The commitment emerged from Starmer’s visit to Beijing, during which both leaders agreed to pursue a more structured and pragmatic partnership focused on trade, investment and long-term stability.
British officials said services liberalisation would be a priority area, reflecting the UK economy’s strengths in finance, insurance, law, consulting, education and creative industries.
Government sources indicated that the two sides had agreed to begin a feasibility study on a potential services agreement, aimed at easing regulatory barriers and improving market access for British firms operating in China.
Services account for around eighty per cent of the UK economy and represent one of the country’s most competitive export sectors, yet access to the Chinese market has long been constrained by licensing rules and regulatory complexity.
The talks also covered cooperation on financial stability, green finance and capital markets, with both governments expressing interest in supporting cross-border investment.
Starmer described the discussions as constructive and outcome-focused, arguing that a clearer framework for services trade would benefit both economies and support growth.
Chinese officials framed the engagement as part of a broader effort to promote openness and mutually beneficial cooperation with major trading partners, particularly as global economic conditions remain uncertain.
The move follows other tangible outcomes from the visit, including commitments on visas and tariff reductions, reinforcing the economic dimension of the diplomatic reset.
While no binding agreement has yet been concluded, UK ministers said the pledge to advance services access represents a meaningful step toward translating political dialogue into commercial opportunity.
As technical talks are expected to begin in the coming months, businesses and investors will be watching closely to see whether the renewed momentum leads to concrete improvements in market access and regulatory transparency for UK service providers in China.
