China agrees visa free travel for Britons after Starmer visit

China agrees visa free travel for Britons after Starmer visit

China has agreed to allow British citizens to travel to the country for up to 30 days without a visa, a move the UK government says could benefit hundreds of thousands of people and deepen trade ties between London and Beijing.

The announcement followed talks in Beijing between Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, and Xi Jinping, Chinese president, during the first visit by a UK leader to China in eight years.

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Downing Street said the visa free arrangement would bring the UK into line with around 50 other countries already granted similar access, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan. There is no confirmed start date, but officials say they hope the new rules will take effect as soon as possible.

According to the Office for National Statistics, about 620,000 British citizens travelled to China in 2024, meaning the change could have a wide impact on business travel and tourism.

Keir said the decision would make it easier for British firms to operate in China and for people to visit the country for short stays.

“As one of the world’s economic powerhouses, businesses have been crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China,” he said.

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The visa announcement came alongside a broader push to reset economic relations. The UK and China also agreed to cut import taxes on British whisky from 10 percent to 5 percent, part of efforts by the UK government to boost growth through trade.

Downing Street said the two sides would explore negotiations on a services agreement, aimed at giving UK companies clearer rules and better access to the Chinese market. Britain is the world’s second largest exporter of services, including finance, healthcare and legal expertise, and demand from China is rising. In a further sign of closer ties, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said it would invest 15 billion dollars in China by 2030, expanding manufacturing and jobs in the country.

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The talks also covered security and migration. Under an agreement signed during the visit, British and Chinese law enforcement agencies will cooperate to disrupt the supply of small boat engines and equipment used by people smuggling gangs. Last year, more than 60 per cent of engines recovered from such boats were branded as Chinese made.

Human rights concerns were also raised.  Starmer said he discussed the jailing of pro democracy activist Jimmy Lai and the treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, stressing that engagement allowed for both cooperation and disagreement.

However, the visit has drawn criticism at home. Chris Philp, Conservative shadow home secretary, accused the prime minister of weakening national security in pursuit of economic gains, calling the small boats agreement a “gimmick”.

The developments were first reported by the BBC, which said the deals form part of a wider attempt by the UK government to strike a more pragmatic relationship with China while maintaining pressure on sensitive political and human rights issues

Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.

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