Sir Keir Starmer wrapped up his trip to China and made his way to Japan today after securing billions of pounds in trade agreements and investments in the UK.
The Prime Minister touched down in Tokyo on Saturday for a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi before he makes his way back to London.
Speaking to reporters on the flight from Shanghai, the Prime Minister said he looked forward to discussing both defence and security issues and trade and the economy with Ms Takaichi.
He said: ‘It’s a really important visit. We’re close allies, G7 and G20 members together. Outside of Europe and the US, Japan is the biggest investor into our economy and there’s 1,000 Japanese businesses supporting, I think, 150,000 jobs in the UK. So, there’s a lot for us to discuss.
He added that Ms Takaichi, who came to power in October last year, had been ‘very quick’ to join the ‘coalition of the willing’ led by Britain and France that is preparing a peacekeeping force for Ukraine.
‘Obviously, the prime minister was very quick to join the coalition of the willing, the work we’re doing, and is a very strong supporter of what we’re doing with the coalition of the willing,’ he said.
‘So, defence and security, we’re going to have discussions about that as well as trade and the economy.’
Sir Keir joined Ms Takaichi at her office, the Kantei, today for a working dinner.
The Prime Minister touched down in Tokyo on Saturday for a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi. Pictured Starmer (L) and Takaichi (R) shake hands ahead of a bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan, 31 January 2026
Sir Keir joined Ms Takaichi at her office, the Kantei, today for a working dinner
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) attends a ceremonial guard of honour with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on January 31, 2026
Dubbed Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’, Ms Takaichi is an unconventional leader and is known for her past of riding motorbikes and being a drummer in a heavy-metal band before entering the world of politics.
Starmer’s visit to Japan comes at the end of a four-day trip to China as he continued his efforts to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with Beijing.
Travelling with a delegation of more than 50 business and cultural leaders, Sir Keir secured a reduction in tariffs on whisky and the introduction of visa-free travel to China for British citizens.
After a meeting between Sir Keir and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing also agreed to lift sanctions on British parliamentarians.
Sir Keir was seemingly snubbed by his Chinese counterpart after he was taken to see Beijing’s world famous Forbidden City – which remained open for tourists.
The PM had to make do with a single visitor guide, despite president Donald Trump having been given a private tour when he visited China a decade ago.
The disparity was highlighted as critics claimed Sir Keir would leave China virtually empty-handed with only warm words and marginal deals despite his kowtowing.
The Prime Minister also suffered an awkward moment on Thursday when he was repositioned by Chinese Premier Li Qiang while walking along the red carpet during a ceremonial welcome ahead of their meeting at the Great Hall of The People.
Before boarding his plane to Tokyo after a three day visit to Shanghai, Starmer said: ‘We are bringing stability, clarity and a long-term strategy to how we engage with China, so we can bring home the benefits for businesses and for working people.
Starmer speaks during a press conference in the Prime Minister’s office in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, 31 January
Takaichi (R) and Starmer (L) take part in a bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan, 31 January
Starmer’s visit to Japan comes at the end of a four-day trip to China as he continued his efforts to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with Beijing
Starmer and Takaichi shake hands after their joint press conference on Saturday in Tokyo
Starmer walks with Takaichi at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan, January 31, 2026
‘Engaging with China is how we secure growth for British businesses, support good jobs at home and protect our national security.’
The heavily trade-focused visit saw Sir Keir fly to China with more than 50 representatives of British businesses and cultural institutions.
Downing Street said the visit had secured £2.2 billion in export deals and market access worth another £2.3 billion over the next five years, as well as hundreds of millions of pounds of investment by Chinese companies.
Among those companies was Pop Mart, the maker of the hit toy Labubu, which has pledged to open seven stores in the UK, including a flagship outlet on London’s Oxford Street.
Birmingham and Cardiff have also been earmarked for stores.
Asked whether he was familiar with the toy, Sir Keir told ITV News he had been given one on the trip, adding: ‘I don’t think it’ll last long with my children.’
Starmer (left) during a tour of the Forbidden City in Beijing, during his visit to China.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a tour of the Forbidden City in Beijing
Sir Keir with a single tour guide yesterday to see one of China’s most revered cultural sites
Chinese Premier Li Qiang moves Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer into position as they inspect a guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday
Meanwhile, car manufacturer Chery also announced it would establish its European headquarters in Liverpool, already home to a Jaguar Land Rover plant.
And on the cultural side, the World Snooker Tour said it had secured a new event in two Chinese cities, bringing in up to £15 million.
The deals follow the announcement on Thursday that Chinese tariffs on whisky would be halved, a move expected to be worth £250 million to the UK over the next five years, and an agreement on visa-free travel to China for British nationals.
Sir Keir said the reduced tariffs would come into effect from Monday. Details of the visa scheme are yet to be confirmed, but Downing Street said it had ‘full confidence’ it would be implemented.
Beyond trade and investment, the Prime Minister also scored a political victory when President Xi Jinping agreed to lift Chinese sanctions on six British parliamentarians.
Sir Keir told the BBC the agreement showed engaging with China allowed him to raise ‘difficult, sensitive issues which you can’t raise if you are not in the room’.
But he continues to face domestic pressure to challenge China further on human rights issues, including the detention of British national and Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, Jimmy Lai, and the treatment of the Uighur minority.
Sir Keir Starmer and Li Qiang walk together yesterday after the Premier repositioned the PM
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visits Huxinting Tea House during his trip to Shanghai today
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his visit to Huxinting Tea House in Shanghai today
In a statement, the previously sanctioned MPs and peers said they took ‘no comfort’ in the decision to lift restrictions on them while these issues remained unresolved.
Closer ties with China could also cause problems for the UK with America, where President Donald Trump criticised Sir Keir’s visit, saying it was ‘dangerous’ to do business with Beijing.
In interviews in Shanghai on Friday, Sir Keir brushed off the criticism, saying Mr Trump had been ‘talking more about Canada’ than the UK, while Britain and America remained ‘very close allies’.
The Prime Minister ended his visit to China with meetings with senior local Chinese Communist Party officials in Shanghai on Saturday morning.
