Britain on Tuesday approved China’s plan to build a massive new embassy in London, clearing a major hurdle to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China later this month.
The roughly 700,000 sq ft (65,030 square metre) embassy will be built at the site of the Royal Mint Court, the former headquarters of Britain’s coin maker, near the Tower of London. It will replace the Chinese embassy in central London.
British media reports have said that Starmer would visit Beijing and Shanghai from January 29 to 31. Neither London nor Beijing has officially confirmed the trip, with analysts suggesting the decision hinged on the approval for the long-delayed mega embassy in London after three years of opposition.
The UK government is also trying to get approval for the redevelopment of its Chinese embassy in Beijing.
A confirmed trip would mark the first visit by a British leader to China since 2018.
The approval is the latest sign of thawing relations between China and the United Kingdom since Starmer took office in July 2024 after a landslide general election victory for the Labour Party.