After arriving in China's capital Beijing on the 28th, UK Prime Minister Starmer chose to have his first meal at a Yunnan cuisine restaurant near the embassy district, a spot frequently visited by foreign diplomats stationed in China. When former US Treasury Secretary Yellen visited China in 2023, she also chose this restaurant for her first meal after landing.
Sing Tao Daily reported that this well-known Chinese chain of popular Yunnan cuisine restaurants posted a video on its social media account on Wednesday night showing Starmer dining at its Sanlitun branch in Beijing and taking a commemorative photo with staff afterwards. In the video, the staff presented Starmer with a Yunnan blessing Jiamas with the words "Year of the Horse Soars Ahead," and everyone shouted "Happy New Year!" when taking the photo. Starmer smiled several times and responded in Mandarin, saying "Thank you."
Jiamas are woodblock prints used in folk blessing, disaster removal, and sacrificial ceremonies, popular throughout Yunnan. Among them, the Bai ethnic group's Jiamas are the most distinctive, also known as "paper talismans."
Some netizens have posted photos of Starmer dining in the restaurant with dozens of British delegation members. The photos show that many people, including Starmer, used chopsticks during the meal.
When former US Treasury Secretary Yellen visited Beijing for a four-day trip in July 2023, her first meal after landing was also at the same Yunnan restaurant.
Starmer met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the 29th, and will head to Shanghai on the 30th to hold talks with local business executives.
Meanwhile, the UK government issued a statement saying that on Thursday China and the UK signed a cooperation agreement focusing on combating the supply chains relied upon by migrant smugglers. The statement noted that more than half of the outboard engines used by people smugglers to cross the English Channel are made in China. According to the statement, the agreement will enhance intelligence sharing between the two countries and establish direct contact with Chinese manufacturers of boat parts to prevent organized crime groups from acquiring such products. The agreement will also deepen cooperation on combating the trafficking of potent and dangerous synthetic opioids—drugs believed to be produced in China and flowing into the UK.