A delegation of senior UK museum directors, including Tim Reeve of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Doug Gurr of the Natural History Museum, Keith Merrin of North East Museums, Sara Wajid of Birmingham Museums Trust, and Laura Pye of National Museums Liverpool, accompanied Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a three-day diplomatic and trade mission to China. The trip aimed to strengthen bilateral relations, with the museum leaders highlighting existing partnerships and exploring new opportunities for cultural exchange and commercial collaboration in the Chinese market.
The visit underscores the strategic role of major cultural institutions in international diplomacy and soft power. It highlights the complex intersection of art, geopolitics, and commerce, as museums seek to expand their global reach and programming in China despite a more challenging political climate compared to a decade ago. The mission also reflects the UK government's intent to leverage its 'creative industries,' including museums, to foster economic growth and a 'consistent, durable' relationship with China, even while addressing contentious human rights issues.