The leaders of Britain and China on Thursday called for a “comprehensive strategic partnership” to deepen ties between their nations at a time of growing global uncertainty. Starmer is the first British prime minister to visit in eight years. “China-U.K. relations experienced setbacks in previous years, which was not in the interests of either country,” Xi said. He told Xi that it has “been far too long” since a U.K. prime minister visited. Starmer is the fourth leader of a U.S. ally to visit Beijing this month, following those of South Korea, Canada and Finland.