Starmer and Xi signal reset in tie

British PM seeks closer economic engagement with China amid Trump tensions

To better relations: Xi and Starmer shaking hands before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — Pool/AFP

British Prime Minister Keir starmer told Chinese President Xi Jinping that he wanted to build a “sophisticated relationship” with Beijing to boost the UK economy, signalling a reset after years of strained ties.

On the key day of his four-day visit to China, the first by a British prime minister in eight years, starmer held an 80-minute summitwithxiatthegreathallofthe People before they lunched together.

starmer said the pair chatted about soccer and shakespeare, as well as business matters.

the British leader will also meet Premier Li Qiang.

starmer, whose centre-left Labour Party government has struggled to deliver the growth it promised, has made improving relations with the world’s secondlargest economy a priority.

“China is a vital player on the global stage, and it’s vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship where we can identify opportunities to collaborate, but of course, also allow a meaningful dialogue on areas where we disagree,” starmer told Xi at the start of their meeting.

Xi said ties with Britain had gone through “twists and turns” that did not serve the interests of either country and that China was ready to develop a long-term partnership.

“We can deliver a result that can withstand the test of history,” the Chinese leader told starmer, flanked by his top ministers.

starmer is the latest Western leader to engage in a flurry of diplomacy with China, as nations hedge against unpredictability from the United states under President Donald trump.

trump’s on-off threats of trade tariffs and pledges to grab control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, have rankled long-standing allies like Britain.

starmer’s visit immediately follows that of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who signed an economic deal with Beijing to tear down trade barriers, drawing trump’s ire.

the British leader told reporters he had made progress in discussions with China’s leader to reduce tariffs on whisky, while Xi also said China would consider waiving visas for British nationals.

“the relationship is in a good place, a strong place,” said starmer, who is being accompanied by more than 50 business leaders on the trip.

Asked by a reporter yesterday if Xi was someone he could do business with, starmer replied “yes”.

starmer has adopted a new policy of engagement with China after ties deteriorated for years under previous Conservative governments.

“i made the promise 18 months ago, when we were elected into government, that i would make Britain face outwards again,” starmer told Xi.

“Because, as we all know, events abroad affect everything that happens back in our home countries, to prices on the supermarket shelves to how secure we feel.”

in a sign of how the countries can work together, starmer also announced that Britain and China would jointly tackle gangs involved in trafficking illegal migrants.

British and Chinese officials will share intelligence to identify smugglers’ supply routes and work with Chinese manufacturers to prevent legitimate businesses from being exploited by organised crime, Downing street said. — reuters

UK-China Business Council meeting held in Beijing

UK-China Business Council meeting held in Beijing

UK firms buzz over growing China opportunities, investment prospects amid PM's China visit

UK businesses are actively discussing new investment opportunities in China, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is paying a visit. Several cooperation agreements have already been reached or in talk, the Global Times learned from corporate representatives at the China-UK ...

Australia Day marked by 'Invasion Day' rallies, anti-immigration protests

 

Protestors hold signs as they gather for an "Invasion Day" rally on Australia's national day, Australia Day, in Melbourne, Australia January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Hollie Adams

 

SYDNEY, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Thousands marked Australia's ‌national day on Monday by attending "Invasion Day" rallies in support of Indigenous Australians ‌and calling for unity,while separate anti-immigration protests also drew crowds.

Australia Day commemorates the day ‌Britain established the state of New South Wales as a penal colony, with the arrival in Sydney of ships bringing colonists and convicts.

However, for many Indigenous Australians, who make up about 4% of the country's 27 million people, ‍the holiday is known as "Invasion Day" and marks the destruction ‍of their cultures by European settlers.

At Sydney's ‌Hyde Park, the annual "Invasion Day" rally started at 10 a.m. (2300 GMT) with a tribute to ‍those ​killed by a gunman in a NSW rural town last week.

Indigenous speakers also talked about land repatriation, the high number of deaths of Aboriginal people in police custody and ⁠the need to stay united against increasing nationalism with the ‌right-wing opposition in disarray and Pauline Hanson's populist One Nation party rising in the polls.

Australia - where one in two ⁠people is either ‍born overseas or has a parent born overseas - has seen record-high immigration in recent years, fuelling discontent among some voters amid soaring costs of living and a housing shortage.

"We need a coalition of all new ‍Australians because if it wasn't for immigrants, Australia would ‌have perished," Aboriginal woman Gwenda Stanley told the rally, as she condemned Hanson.

"So don't just stand with us today. Stand with us every day."

Every year on January 26, protesters rally against the mistreatment of Indigenous people, demanding the government drop the Australia Day celebrations or move the date. However, a survey by the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Sunday showed a record number of Australians wanting to maintain the holiday on the same date.

Nearby, anti-immigration demonstrations began at noon as protesters, ‌estimated in the hundreds by local media, arrived carrying Australian flags on poles. March for Australia, which has been criticised for alleged links to neo-Nazi groups, organised the demonstration.

Similar events - "Invasion Day" rallies and March for Australia protests - ​are being held across the country.

Earlier in the day, in a speech as he presidedover an Australia Day citizenship ceremony, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for unity, not division.

From hard tariffs to hot tea: How uncertainties in US inadvertently fueled China’s rise in global appeal?

 ‘Very Chinese time’

Foreign tourists interact with performers during a lion dance performance at a scenic spot in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, on January 17, 2026. Photo: VCG

These days, TikTok feeds are filled with a recurring set of visuals: Young people from the US and other countries hold steaming mugs, seriously declaring to the camera, "From tomorrow, I'm turning Chinese." 

Some replace cold salads with a bowl of hot congee (porridge), some try to boil apple water on the stove for the first time, others slip on thick socks and step into slippers, or try soaking their feet while sipping ginger tea. 

One person bought a bag of goji berries for the first time at the supermarket, captioning the video: "Very Chinese time in my life."

These are not isolated acts of curiosity or imitation, but part of a growing global social media trend: "Becoming Chinese."

The hashtag #chinesebaddie has already garnered more than 2,300 posts in the past month, with the algorithm continuously pushing this lifestyle to a wider audience of young users.

On the surface, this appears to be a pop culture trend centered on health and lifestyle. But in the global context of 2026, it carries deeper implications. 

When US President Donald Trump officially began his second term, he brought back his "America First" agenda - marked by high tariffs, transactional diplomacy, and relentless pressure on allies - once again forcing the international community to contend with a highly unpredictable US.

A Global Times survey conducted in late December 2025, covering approximately 51,700 respondents across 46 countries and regions, found that, when asked "which country do you have a more favorable opinion of, China or the US?", 39 percent chose China - 1.5 times the number who chose the US (26 percent), while 25 percent viewed both similarly. 

Compared with 2024, the share of those expressing a more favorable view toward China rose by 9 percentage points, while the figure for the US dropped by roughly 8 percentage points.

There is a growing recognition that the US itself is becoming a source of global instability. At the same time, countries around the world increasingly view China as an anchor of stability, peace, prosperity and development, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. 

"Such reckless moves by the US are instead prompting countries to realize more clearly that China represents opportunity, prosperity and progress," he said.

Looking ahead, if the "Becoming Chinese" trend continues, or evolves into something else, is the world also entering a "Very Chinese Time"?

Turning to China amid geopolitical turbulence

A sign opposing US military intervention in Venezuela hangs on an overpass near the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2026. Photo: VCG

As 2026 is barely a month old, the US is already stirring global chaos under the "America First" banner. On January 3, US forces launched a dramatic military strike on Venezuela, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The US has also seized multiple Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Caribbean, tightening control over the nation's resources.

The aggression extends further. The US has issued threats against Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico, imposed sanctions on Iran, and even targeted traditional allies. Trump has repeatedly voiced intentions to acquire Greenland "one way or another," threatening tariffs on European countries opposing the idea. Meanwhile, NBC News reported that Trump has intensified his criticism of Canada in private conversations with aides in recent weeks over what he sees as the country's vulnerability to US adversaries in the Arctic.

The Financial Times dropped a commentary on January 17 titled "Trump is making the world fall in love with China." It says, "Countries that once saw American success as their own now view the US as an adversary and Beijing as a model."

A recently published global opinion poll commissioned by the European Council on Foreign Relations shows that in the first year of Trump's second term, a growing number of people believe that "China's already formidable influence will grow - and that this is positive news for their own country and for the world. In other words, Trump may have shaken the globe, but the world is falling for China," the article says.

Protesters demonstrate against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis on January 18, 2026, after Renee Good was shot by an ICE officer on January 7, 2026. Photo: VCG

In this backdrop of unpredictability and coercion, many countries are pivoting politically toward China for stability.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Beijing on January 4 for a state visit to China. The visit comes as South Korea seeks to stably manage its relations with China, a key partner in trade, tourism and peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula while also maintaining a strong alliance with the US under the Lee administration's "pragmatic" diplomatic approach, the Yonhap News Agency reported. 

The UK government on Tuesday approved the plan for China's new embassy in London, multiple media outlets reported. "The UK government's final approval of the new Chinese embassy can be seen as a phased victory of pragmatic and rational diplomacy over an over-securitized mind-set in the country," Wang Hanyi, a research fellow at the China-UK Center for Cultural Exchange at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times. The decision, he said, shows that honoring international obligations and respecting sovereignty are prerequisites for the sound development of China-UK relations.

Economic realignment shifts to China

A landmark example is Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's January visit to China - the first by a Canadian leader since 2017 - resulting in progress in Canada-China relations and rich trade deals. 

Western media, including The New York Times, described it as "a major policy shift" to reduce reliance on the US amid tariff threats. Carney described the trip to China as "part of a move to forge new partnerships around the world to end Canada's economic reliance on the American market," the Associated Press reported.

Unlike US calls to "bring supply chains home," China's affordable, innovative products - from EVs to AI technologies like DeepSeek - are seamlessly integrating into global daily life.

Industry data showed on January 14 that China's automobile production and sales both exceeded 34 million units in 2025, setting new record highs, offering new cooperation opportunities and helping to establish a global win-win ecosystem in this sector, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Meanwhile, the "Becoming Chinese" trend on TikTok is boosting consumption of traditional Chinese health products like congee ingredients and herbal teas, indirectly propelling Chinese brands globally, analysts note.

As the US stirs chaos across the globe, pushing even its own allies toward confrontation and driving up massive political and alliance costs, more countries are waking up to the true nature of the expanding American hegemony. This turmoil is making the world see clearly who the real positive force is: the one actively contributing to global security, stability, and leadership, Dun Zhigang, a research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.

US' policies inflict massive shock, uncertainties, and destruction on the US itself and the world, eroding confidence in the future and breeding widespread anxiety, Dun said.

The chosen trend

A photo shows an ancient town in Chongqing on January 11, 2026, where Chinese and foreign tourists stream through the streets in an endless flow. Photo: VCG

While shifts in geopolitics and economics often require data and expert analysis to be fully understood, the "Becoming Chinese" phenomenon unfolding across social media serves as a form of global emotional expression that needs no translation.

Within this trend, Chinese-style wellness and daily routines have been rebranded as a lifestyle upgrade that is "healthier, more relaxed and more sustainable." 

A series of short videos by Chinese creator Sherry Xiiruii under the theme of "Becoming Chinese" have quickly garnered millions of views. Another creator, Emma Peng, plainly states in her video, "My culture can be your culture," with the comments section flooded with phrases like "taking notes" and "this actually works."

The trend has gained such traction that even public figures, including comedian Jimmy O Yang, have taken part. As the momentum builds, new expressions have emerged, including "Chinamaxxing" - a phrase denoting the adoption of increasingly Chinese habits - and the tongue-in-cheek blessing "u will turn Chinese tomorrow," both of which have become popular among young internet users.

Culturally, this is far from the first time China has gone viral in the past year. During last summer, US influencer Speed - known for his hyper-energetic livestreams - caused a social media sensation during his visit to China, attracting tens of millions of views across platforms. His livestreams showed genuine curiosity and enthusiasm for Chinese street food, public spaces and everyday interactions, and were widely praised by netizens in both China and abroad for their unfiltered, cross-cultural engagement.

Other notable examples include the continued popularity of Chinese dramas on international streaming platforms, rising interest in Hanfu, a type of traditional Chinese clothing, among Western youth, and the viral success of Chinese-style aesthetics and music on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

A Global Times survey conducted in late 2025 showed that over 90 percent of foreign respondents expressed their interest in China, with more than 40 percent indicating a high level of interest. 

"Culture" ranked as the top area of interest in the developed countries, while "technology" led in the developing nations. Among recent China-related trends, TikTok and online shopping were chosen by around 60 percent of the respondents, while awareness of Chinese innovations such as robots, drones and smart-driving vehicles surpassed 80 percent.

"Such a trend does not require any deliberate promotion," Li said. "Rather, it is the natural outcome of countries pursuing their own interests and making realistic assessments of the global situation, leading to closer coordination and cooperation with China."

Against this backdrop, China's culture, value propositions and practical approaches are drawing growing international attention, he noted. "Cultural phenomena can serve as symptoms or secondary indicators of geopolitical shifts, offering insights into broader global dynamics."

"It is predictable that as long as China continues its steady path, its international influence will inevitably expand," Li said. "More countries will recognize that aligning with China is choosing the right path. The overall trend is already quite clear."

By 

Shan Jie

 and 

Hu Yuwei

In-Depth reporter covering COVID-19 vaccines and health, Tibetan issue, China-ASEAN relations, among others.

Hu Yuwei, Global T imes

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View the ‘shocking’ university ranking with composure

 

Photo: VCG

The newly released "Leiden Rankings" from the Netherlands has recently drawn widespread attention. Eight of the world's top ten universities on the list are from China, with Zhejiang University ranking first, while Harvard University of the US - long a fixture at the top - fell to third place. The results sparked intense discussion. The New York Times published an in-depth analysis under the headline Chinese Universities Surge in Global Rankings as US Schools Slip, while France's Le Monde reported on January 20 that the ranking had triggered widespread shock, noting that the rise of Chinese universities has made the West less certain of itself. How should one view this "shocking" ranking? Our answer is simple: with composure.

First, the ranking does reflect, to a considerable extent, China's advances in education and science and technology. The Centre for Science and Technology Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands, which publishes the ranking, is highly respected in the global field of scientometrics. The ranking focuses primarily on research output in high-impact international academic journals. Chinese scholars have ranked first globally for years in both the volume of SCI-indexed papers and citation counts. Judged by these criteria, it is hardly accidental that Chinese universities occupy eight of the top ten positions. In 2025, China's research and development (R&D) spending intensity reached 2.8 percent, surpassing the average of economies in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for the first time. The rise of many Chinese universities in the rankings is therefore a natural outcome of China's long-standing commitment to the strategy of invigorating China through science and education, coupled with sustained increases in research investment.

Most of the Chinese universities ranked in the top ten are research-oriented institutions with strengths in science and engineering, such as Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. What the ranking effectively "captures" is the growing competitiveness of China in fields such as electronic communication, materials science, physics, and chemistry. From Huawei's 5G technologies to the Tianhe supercomputers, and to the quantum satellite "Micius," Chinese university research teams have played a direct, critical, and in-depth role behind these achievements. The continuous flow of innovation generated by Chinese universities has been a powerful driver of China's transition from a major manufacturing country to a major science and technology power.

However, it is important to remain clear-eyed about the limitations of this ranking, which has a distinct focus - or preference. It places greater emphasis on universities' performance in academic research publications, reflecting only part of the picture rather than the whole. Judged by more comprehensive indicators, the more widely recognized global university rankings remain the QS World University Rankings, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities. In these rankings, universities from the US and the UK continue to dominate the top tiers. In terms of research originality, global talent attraction, and employer reputation, established Western universities still enjoy advantages. These gaps also serve as a reminder that the overall strength of Chinese universities - particularly their capacity to translate integrated technologies into real-world applications and their models for cultivating innovative talent - still has room for further improvement. 

Even so, in early 2000, the same Leiden Ranking still had seven US universities among the top 10, while Zhejiang University only made it into the top 25. Today, although Harvard produces even more research than it did back then, it has slipped to the third place. Given the progress made by Chinese universities over the past two decades, it is hardly difficult to understand why Western media might feel "shocked." This ranking has overturned many long-held perceptions. In fact, Chinese universities did not seize the spotlight "overnight." In recent years, from advances in basic research and breakthroughs in frontier technologies to leaps in strategic industries, China's scientific and technological rise has long been visible to the world. As universities serve as a "reservoir" for scientific and technological development, it is only natural that higher education institutions have made corresponding gains.

As for some Western media outlets linking the Leiden Ranking to narratives of "shifting power" or even a "new world order," this is an overreaction. Behind such "shock" lies Western anxiety over the erosion of technological hegemony. In reality, the progress of Chinese universities does not imply the failure of the West; rather, it represents a "collective increment" in humanity's overall creation of knowledge. From Harvard's liberal education to Stanford's entrepreneurial incubation, drawing on advanced educational philosophies from developed countries has itself been part of the progress of Chinese universities. At a time when global knowledge cooperation is becoming ever more closely intertwined, only by breaking free from zero-sum thinking can humanity's scientific enterprise advance together.

In a sense, the Leiden Ranking is like a mirror, reflecting both our achievements and our shortcomings. Every year, many Chinese students cross oceans to pursue their studies, with venerable Western institutions such as Harvard and Oxford remaining their "dream schools." We also hope that in the future, more international students will come to regard Chinese universities as their own "dream schools" and choose to study in China. That would be a far more persuasive kind of "ranking." 

-  Global Times editorial

Knowledge is power when buying durian’, Musang King now RM20-30/kg

 

Tang (left) showing Mat Suaid (second right) and agriculture department staff the durians at his Gertak Sanggul orchard. The opened fruits are Black Thorn (right) and Musang King. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

BALIK Pulau durian farmers take immense pride in the varieties grown for generations in Penang.

They include the Ang Hae (Red Prawn), Hor Lor, Ang Bak and XO varieties of the fruit.

In order to avoid disappointment and paying a premium price for sub-par fruit, Southwest District Agriculture Department officer Mat Suaid Sapiyin advised durian lovers to learn to recognise the physical traits rather than trusting a seller’s claims.

“Take the much sought-after Black Thorn (Or Chi) for instance. “The premium variety is typically round and weighs between 1.5kg and 2.5kg.

“It has a prominent dot at the base resembling a thorn,” he said.

Mat Suaid encouraged consumers to familiarise themselves with the main clones from the area and verify the orchard’s location.

The Black Thorn (right) has a prominent dot at the base resembling a thorn, while Musang King (left) has a flat crown and vertical seams running down to a distinct five-point star at the base.

“Do not to be swayed by irresponsible traders or middlemen when buying the fruit.

“Choose reputable or registered farmers, check the stem, aroma and ripeness of the fruit, and ask for documentation, especially for the Geographical Indication (GI) of premium varieties.”

Mat Suaid said Penang was still in the process of implementing Mi-Trace, a QR code system developed with Mimos Bhd to help combat fraud and misrepresentation.

Farmers are also registered with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) and district agriculture office and have acquired Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices (myGAP) certification to strengthen source verification of their fruits, he added.

Orchard owner Tang Boon Ley, 60, said there was also a need for processing platforms or collection centres with blast freezers, cold storage, and downstream processing facilities.

He said it could be a long-term solution for surplus durian.

“Now may be the best time for people to eat premium durian at a lower price, but eventually something must be done.”

He said such infrastructure, coupled with cooperative models, would help stabilise prices, reduce wastage and allow growers to tap into value-added products such as durian paste, ice-cream and confectionery.

Musang King now RM20-30/kg

Going easy: Tang (left) showing Fahmirudin (second from left) and other officers a particular type of durian at his orchard in Getak Sanggul, Penang. In the foreground are Musang King (left) and Or Chi durians. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: The prices have dropped but many consumers are not biting.

Musang King durian is now selling at lower prices due to oversupply but traders are not seeing roaring sales yet.

Durian orchard owner Tang Boon Ley believes this is partly due to families prioritising school expenses as the new term begins on Monday.

“Durians are not a priority for them at the moment,” he said in an interview.

Tang said Musang King is now priced between RM20 and RM30 per kg, a sharp drop from RM60 to RM80 per kg during the previous durian season from May to August.

Furthermore, he said weaker consumer spending was also due to the fact that the fruit is being sold outside the main durian season.

“This is considered a ‘bonus’ season,” he said.

Tang said the growing number of Musang King orchard owners had led to an oversupply, further driving prices down. At the same time, newer durian varieties have also entered the market, intensifying competition, he said.

“For durian lovers, this is the best time to enjoy affordable Musang King. This is expected to last until Chinese New Year.

“Prices are likely to return to normal when the new durian season begins in May,” he said.

Once the undisputed favourite among durian fans, Mu­­sang King now faces stiff competition from other varieties such as Or Chi (Black Thorn) and Tupai King.

Penang Agriculture Department assistant agricultural officer Fahmirudin Zainol Abidin said wholesale prices for Musang King have dropped significantly, as processing facilities struggle to cope with the surplus.

He said the price decline was driven by simultaneous harvesting in Penang, Perak, Pahang and Johor, with overall production estimated to have tripled.

“This is not a demand issue but a capacity problem. Excess supply has pushed prices down,” he said.

Penang has two durian seasons annually, with the harvest typically peaking in June and July.

A smaller, less predictable harvest can occur from November to January.

In identifying genuine durians from Balik Pulau, particularly Ang Hae (Red Prawn), Fahmirudin said the variety can be determined through subtle physical traits.

“Local Ang Hae typically has a slightly greyish husk and a distinctive fruit shape that differs from similarly named varieties found in Perak, Pahang or Johor.

“Or Chi, on the other hand, is recognised by its rounder shape, widely spaced thorns and a pronounced star-shaped base.

“These are the features growers use to distinguish it from Musang King,” he said.