CNBC·2026-02-02 11:20Investment and Partnerships - Chinese businesses have pledged hundreds of millions of pounds in investments in the U.K. during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit, leading to significant bilateral business activity [2][3] - Starmer's visit resulted in £2.2 billion ($3 billion) worth of exports and £2.3 billion in market access for British businesses [3] - Pop Mart plans to establish a regional headquarters in London and open 27 new stores across Europe, creating over 150 jobs in the U.K. [8] - Chery Commercial Vehicles intends to set up a regional headquarters in Liverpool, potentially partnering with Jaguar Land Rover [8] - Asymchem is planning a major expansion in the U.K., adding 150 jobs in advanced research and development over the next five years [9] - HiTHIUM has pledged to invest £200 million in the U.K. and create 300 jobs, focusing on energy storage technologies [10] Market Access and E-commerce - The U.K.-China agreement includes promises from Beijing to broaden access for British businesses into the Chinese consumer market [12] - JD.com will assist British brands in selling to Chinese consumers and will launch its online retail platform Joybuy in the U.K. [13] - British companies have reported a deteriorating business environment in China, but a third of respondents plan to increase investments, particularly in operations and partnerships [14][15] Industry-Specific Developments - AstraZeneca announced a $15 billion investment in China to expand local R&D capabilities and increase its workforce [11] - British asset manager Schroders signed a memorandum with CATL to develop battery energy storage systems in Europe [11] - Birmingham Biotech expects around £20 million in sales in China as it scales its operations [16] - Octopus Energy Group plans to form a joint venture with China's PCG Power to trade renewable energy [17]