"China has agreed in principle to allow British citizens to travel to the country for up to 30 days without a visa, Downing Street has confirmed, following high-level talks in Beijing aimed at resetting relations and boosting economic ties. The announcement came after Keir Starmer met Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital, making him the first UK prime minister to visit China in eight years."
"Sir Keir said relaxed visa rules would support British firms seeking to expand in one of the world's largest markets, while also making it easier for tourists to visit China. "As one of the world's economic powerhouses, businesses have been crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China," he said. "We'll make it easier for them to do so, including via relaxed visa rules for short-term travel, supporting them to expand abroad, all while boosting growth and jobs at home.""
"The visit also resulted in an agreement to halve Chinese import taxes on UK whisky from 10 per cent to 5 per cent, part of a broader effort to strengthen trade links. Downing Street said the two countries had agreed to explore negotiations on a services agreement that would create clearer, legally binding rules for UK companies operating in China. The UK is the world's second-largest exporter of services, including finance, legal and healthcare services, and No 10 said demand from China was increasing."
China has agreed in principle to permit British citizens to travel without a visa for up to 30 days, with no start date yet confirmed. The agreement followed Keir Starmer’s meeting with Xi Jinping, the first UK prime ministerial visit to China in eight years. The change could benefit hundreds of thousands of travellers, with around 620,000 UK visits to China in 2024. The UK would join about 50 countries eligible for visa-free entry. The talks also secured a cut in Chinese import tax on UK whisky from 10% to 5% and opened exploration of a services agreement, potentially including mutual recognition of professional qualifications to help British firms access the Chinese market.
Read at Business Matters
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