A lot of key UK museum professionals—together with Tim Reeve, the deputy director of the Victoria and Albert Museum—have accompanied the prime minister Keir Starmer on his three-day go to to China. The delegation, which arrived in China on Wednesday and heads again to the UK at present, has shaped a part of a relationship-boosting initiative.
In an in depth weblog, Reeve outlines the V&A’s burgeoning relationship with its Chinese language counterparts, from signing a memorandum of understanding in 2013—which led to the launch of the V&A at Design Society in Shenzhen close to Hong Kong—to a partnership with the state physique Artwork Exhibitions China, which resulted in ten V&A reveals travelling to quite a few Chinese language cities together with Jinan and Guangzhou.
Reeve writes: “Clearly loads has modified because the hazy sunshine of Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai in 2013. A decade of protest in Hong Kong and a unstable geo-political context for this go to sees confidence and optimism changed by diffidence and pragmatism; not a lot a ‘Golden Period’ of promise and ambition, however what the prime minister has described as a ‘constant, sturdy and respectful relationship’; extra Sparta than Rome.”
He provides: “As I clamber aboard commerce mission 2026… can the V&A look ahead to one other decade of regular growth of its mission of ‘artwork and design for all’?” A V&A spokesperson confirmed that the museum remains to be working with the Design Society in Shenzhen, most just lately on the Design Values Award which celebrates modern Chinese language design.
Doug Gurr, the director of the Pure Historical past Museum in London, mentioned in an announcement: “For over 15 years, the museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the 12 months exhibition has toured to a number of places in China. Throughout 2025, our scientists co-authored over 100 papers with Chinese language collaborators, in addition to facilitating assortment and analysis visits.”
The museum can be eager to increase its industrial actions within the Chinese language market from model licensing to publishing initiatives, he added.
Keith Merrin, the director of North East Museums, which is chargeable for 12 establishments together with Laing Artwork Gallery in Newcastle, has additionally been in China. He instructed the Chronicle Dwell newspaper that “that is an incredible alternative to advertise the historical past and creativity of the communities of north east England, in addition to making connections with museums and cultural establishments in China to discover methods we are able to probably work collectively.”
Different museum representatives on the go to embrace Sara Wajid, the co-chief govt of Birmingham Museums Belief, and Laura Pye, the director of Nationwide Museums Liverpool.
Starmer met the Chinese language president Xi Jinping and premier Li Qiang in Beijing (29 January) for talks on commerce and funding, mentioned a No.10 assertion. Earlier than their discussions within the Nice Corridor of the Individuals, a state constructing in Beijing, Starmer instructed Xi he wished a “broader, deeper and extra subtle” relationship between the 2 international locations. China subsequently agreed to a visa waiver for British vacationers and enterprise travellers, enabling visa-free journey for 30 days.
“The prime minister will push for entry in areas the place higher co-operation with China would enhance progress and ship prosperity for the British individuals. That features the UK’s world-leading monetary companies sector, artistic industries and life sciences experience,” provides No.10.
The UK authorities additionally confused that the prime minister would “elevate the areas the place we disagree with China” highlighting human rights points such because the detention of 1 million Uyghur and different Turkic Muslims within the Xinjiang area. China has repeatedly claimed the camps are re-education centres focused at terrorists. Starmer mentioned he raised the difficulty with Xi throughout their Thursday assembly.
“This uncommon, high-level go to is a second of actual consequence, and the UK authorities should use it to ship a transparent, public and uncompromising condemnation of Beijing’s brutal human rights report,” mentioned Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty Worldwide UK’s interim chief govt, in an announcement. In 2021, an unbiased London panel discovered “past all affordable doubt” that China was responsible of crimes in opposition to humanity.
Different establishments which have collaborated with Chinese language establishments embrace Tate, which has partnered with Shanghai’s Pudong Museum of Artwork, and the Nationwide Gallery in London which offered Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the Nationwide Gallery on the Shanghai Museum in 2023. On the time, the Nationwide Gallery mentioned: “Such collaborations will not be endorsements of any worldwide authorities insurance policies, and the gallery condemns any violation of human rights.”
