Q: During UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China from January 28 to 31, leaders of the two countries witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in the economic and trade fields. Could you provide more details?

A: On January 29, witnessed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle jointly signed four economic and trade outcome documents, marking concerted efforts in the three areas of trade in goods, trade in services, and economic and trade mechanisms to further deepen China-UK economic and trade relations.

1. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning exports from the UK to China

The fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee called for pursuing balanced development of imports and exports. Following the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on expanding imports, MOFCOM, by building the new brand “Big Market for All: Export to China,” shares the new opportunities of China’s vast market with the world, demonstrating the country’s firm commitment to high-standard opening up.

Through the signing of the MoU, the UK becomes the first country to sign such an MoU with China since the launch of the series of events. China has invited the UK to serve as a feature country of the year. The two sides will establish a cooperation mechanism for “Export to China,” jointly explore the potential of exporting high-quality UK goods and services to China, strengthen information sharing, conduct promotion activities, improve trade facilitation, and work together to promote the healthy development of China-UK trade.

2. MoU on the conduct of a joint feasibility study for a China-UK trade in services agreement and MoU on the establishment a bilateral services partnership

The UK is the world’s second-largest exporter of services. In recent years, China and the UK have actively advanced cooperation in the services trade sector and achieved positive results. Through the signing of these two documents, China and the UK will initiate a joint feasibility study on negotiating a services trade agreement. At the same time, they will fully leverage the complementarities and respective strengths in the services sector to further deepen cooperation in areas such as creative industries, professional services, financial services, and healthcare services. In the current international environment marked by intertwined changes and turbulence, this represents a concrete action by the two countries in jointly supporting free trade.

3. MoU on strengthening the work of the China-UK Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO)

The China-UK JETCO is an important mechanism for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, with several specialized working groups under it. Its last meeting was held in Beijing in September 2025. Through the signing of the MoU, the two sides aim to reinforce the JETCO’s role as a key platform for economic and trade policy dialogue, as well as for promoting trade and investment between China and the UK. The MoU seeks to enhance interactions between the JETCO and the UK-China Business Council, strengthen government-to-business dialogue between the two countries, facilitate the resolution of concerns and requests raised by enterprises on both sides, and contribute to deepening China-UK economic and trade relations.