British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has paid an official visit to China, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday, adding that the visit was fruitful in lifting diplomatic relations between the two countries to a new height.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference, "This is the first visit of a British prime minister to China in eight years, and Prime Minister Starmer is also the first leader of a permanent member of the UN Security Council that China will gain in 2026." 

"China is ready to implement the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries and jointly develop a long-term and sustainable comprehensive strategic partnership," the spokesperson said. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Starmer said that China has agreed to lift sanctions imposed on five British MPs and two colleagues for criticizing human rights violations against the Uyghur minority group, according to the French news agency AFP.