British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently ended a four-day visit to China where he met President Xi Jinping. Starmer was joined by top British business leaders in finance, pharmaceuticals, clean energy, and aviation. Notably, Chery chairman Yin Tongyue plans to open the carmaker’s European headquarters in Liverpool. AstraZeneca announced a $15 billion investment in China over five years. The UK government highlighted deals worth £2.3 billion in market access and £2.2 billion in exports, though how much will be realized remains uncertain. Beijing agreed to extend visa-free access for British citizens to 30 days and cut tariffs on British whisky from 10% to 5%. Starmer’s visit was the first by a British prime minister to China in eight years, signaling a thaw in relations after the past chilly period. He emphasized Hong Kong’s role as a “unique and important bridge between the UK and China,” a view shared by many given the city’s rich cultural and institutional ties to Britain. Both China and the UK are keen to fill the global leadership gap left by the US, focusing on climate change and AI governance. This visit could help open new doors for Sino-British collaboration across many sectors, making Hong Kong a vital platform for such ventures.