The most significant outcome of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China, according to Peter Burnett, chief executive of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), was that it enhanced confidence among businesses in both countries — an intangible but powerful result backed by the highest-level meeting between the two leaders.

Such high-level endorsement, he noted in a recent exclusive interview with China Daily website in Beijing, is expected to encourage greater trade and mutual investment between Chinese and British businesses.

The visit also delivered a series of tangible outcomes — including intergovernmental agreements, memorandums of understanding and cooperation deals at both the government-business and business-business levels — with CBBC itself signing four such agreements.

Burnett added that further progress is expected on market access issues, with trade frictions likely to ease and more dialogue to be launched in areas of mutual interest.

The CBBC's events during the visit served as a key platform for government-business and business-business interaction — allowing officials to observe corporate cooperation and businesses to better understand intergovernmental engagement.

He also highlighted that British consumer brands already have a thriving presence in China and called on them to further expand their reach in the market.

He took note of the transformation of "Made in China" over the past two decades, from a label once associated with low-cost goods to a symbol of high quality and advanced technology, citing the growing popularity of Chinese electric vehicles in the United Kingdom as evidence.

As CBBC chief executive, Burnett emphasized his commitment to expanding the organization’s membership, promoting more commercial activities and facilitating better understanding between Chinese and British businesses.

The ultimate goal, he declared, is to boost two-way investment and trade growth, driving the China-UK business relationship to new heights.