Keir Starmer in Beijing’s Forbidden City (Image: Getty)
As he wandered around the Forbidden City in Beijing, Sir Keir Starmer could have afforded himself a wistful smile. The historic imperial palace complex was the centre of political power in China for more than 500 years. Its governments exuded power and stability, bringing about rapid development and advancements.
More than half a millennium after its construction, Sir Keir found himself walking among the ornate buildings which once housed the Ming and Qing dynasties. But this is a political leader in a very different position. He has been dramatically weakened by repeated leadership threats, plagued by multiple embarrassing U-turns and the economy he oversees is spluttering.
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Sir Keir’s big hope from this landmark trip to China was to boost trade between the two countries.
While a reduction in whisky tariffs is welcome, it’s no big bazooka.
As was AstraZeneca’s £10 billion investment plans for China, and a new deal on visa-free travel.
They are the equivalent of the Chinese delicacy dim sum, bite-sized morsels that merely tickle the taste buds, but leave you hungry for more.
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The Prime Minister hopes his new bond with Chinese President Xi Jinping will extend beyond their shared love of football.
And he will also have his fingers crossed that Donald Trump doesn’t become angered, like a number of Tory MPs, by his cosiness with the Communist superpower.
