Brendan Nelson to Join UK Business Delegation on Starmer’s China Visit

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to travel to Beijing next week, marking the first official visit by a British leader to China since 2018. The visit will include a business delegation featuring senior executives from major UK companies.

Brendan Nelson, who was appointed as permanent Group Chair of HSBC in December 2025, will be among the business leaders accompanying the Prime Minister. Nelson had previously served as interim Group Chair starting from October 2025 and is scheduled to continue as Chairman of the Group Audit Committee until HSBC releases its 2025 annual results in February 2026.

During the visit, British companies such as AstraZeneca, BP, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Schroders, and Standard Chartered are expected to join the revamped UK-China CEO Council. The council is part of efforts to renew business dialogue between the two countries.

The UK and China have stated their intention to revive a business dialogue described as a 'golden era,' with top executives invited to participate in the CEO Council. The delegation’s activities are expected to focus on strengthening commercial ties and facilitating discussions between leading firms from both nations.

What the numbers show

• Brendan Nelson was named permanent HSBC Group Chair in December 2025
• He began serving as interim Group Chair on 1 October 2025
• Starmer’s Beijing visit will be the first by a UK leader since 2018
• HSBC’s 2025 annual results are scheduled for publication in February 2026

HSBC confirmed that Nelson will retain his role as Chairman of the Group Audit Committee until the annual results are published. This arrangement allows for continuity in the bank’s governance during the transition period.

According to published reports, the business delegation is expected to include representatives from a range of sectors, reflecting the broad commercial interests between the UK and China. The inclusion of these firms in the CEO Council is part of a coordinated effort to enhance bilateral business engagement.

The visit and accompanying business dialogue are organized around official meetings and council sessions, with the aim of providing a platform for company leaders to discuss opportunities and challenges in the UK-China economic relationship. The event is structured to facilitate direct interaction between executives and policymakers from both countries.

Britain’s approach to the visit emphasizes the participation of leading business figures and the renewal of established dialogue mechanisms. The presence of senior executives, such as Nelson, highlights the focus on practical engagement and institutional cooperation during the trip.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.