News|International TradeChina pitches itself as a reliable partner as Trump alienates US alliesUK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is the latest US ally to visit Beijing, pursuing renewed ties and trade deals.

Since the beginning of 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping has engaged in diplomatic discussions with several global leaders, including South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and Irish leader Micheal Martin. These visits highlight China's ongoing efforts to strengthen its position as a reliable business and trading partner.

This week, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is visiting Beijing for three days, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to make his inaugural visit to China in late February. These interactions involve five countries that are treaty allies of the United States, each of which has been affected by trade tariffs and additional duties on key exports such as steel, aluminum, and automotive products imposed by the Trump administration over the past year.

Canada, Finland, Germany, and the UK were recently involved in a NATO standoff over concerns about the US administration's policies, including proposed tariffs and territorial ambitions.

At the World Economic Forum's annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, Chinese Vice Premier Li Hefeng emphasized China's commitment to multilateralism and free trade in response to US policies. Li criticized unilateral trade actions and reinforced China's support for global economic and trade order principles. He advocated for collaborative solutions to global economic challenges.

Li's statements underscore China's strategic positioning as a stable global actor amid changes in US policies, particularly in relation to the United Nations system and global rules.

Recent visits to China by European leaders reflect growing interest in strengthening economic ties. The UK has approved a Chinese embassy expansion in London, and progress has been made in resolving trade disputes over Chinese electric vehicle exports to Europe. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit resulted in agreements to reduce tariffs on agricultural exports and Chinese EVs.

These developments illustrate a shift in diplomatic and trade strategies among European countries, seeking to diversify their economic partnerships amidst US trade policies.

While China offers a reliable alternative for trade partnerships, challenges remain, including its significant global trade surplus, which reached $1.2 trillion last year. This surplus has raised concerns among European leaders about export practices and economic imbalances.

Chinese Vice Premier Li addressed these issues at Davos, expressing China's desire to be a global market while highlighting barriers faced when seeking to import goods.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.