China agreed to relax rules to allow some visa-free travel for British citizens on Thursday (29 January) during a visit by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Beijing. It's part of a partnership deal which Westminster hopes will help expand its service sector.
British citizens will be allowed to visit China without a visa if they are travelling for under 30 days, Starmer said following his talks with President Xi Jinping, in what he cast as a win for business.
Companies had been "crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China", a statement from Starmer said, adding that visa-free travel would help facilitate expansion in that market, boosting jobs at home.
Injecting growth into Britain's relatively sluggish economy is one of the main aims of his four-day trip.
As part of what the UK called a “new partnership,” the two countries also agreed to conduct a feasibility study that could pave the way for a bilateral services agreement, aimed at easing market access for British firms.
Starmer pointed to a $15 billion investment by AstraZeneca in its Chinese operations as an example of the economic benefits closer ties could bring to both countries.
However, he said the renewed engagement would also allow for “frank dialogue” where differences arise.
“China is a vital player on the global stage and it is vital that we build a more sophisticated relationship,” Starmer told Xi at the start of their meeting.
Xi said ties between the two countries had gone through “twists and turns” that did not serve either side’s interests and that China was ready to develop a long-term partnership.
Starmer is the latest Western leader to visit China as countries hedge against the unpredictability of U.S. President Donald Trump. The talks also covered security issues, Russia’s war in Ukraine and human rights.
Starmer’s visit comes amid Trump’s on-off threats of trade tariffs and remarks about Greenland, which have unsettled long-standing U.S. allies.
He follows in the footsteps of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who this month signed an economic deal with Beijing to tear down trade barriers, drawing Trump's ire.
Security, migration and sensitive issues
Starmer said Britain and China would work together to tackle gangs involved in migrant smuggling, including efforts to reduce the use of Chinese-made engines in small boats used to cross the English Channel.
British and Chinese officials will share intelligence to identify supply routes and work with manufacturers to prevent legitimate businesses from being exploited by organised crime, Downing Street said.
Starmer also said he raised the case of jailed British citizen and former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai in what he described as a “respectful discussion” with Xi.
Relations between Britain and China had deteriorated under previous Conservative governments, with London restricting some Chinese investment over national security concerns and criticising Beijing’s actions in Hong Kong.
Starmer said his government is pursuing a more pragmatic approach. “I made the promise 18 months ago when we were elected into government that I would make Britain face outwards again,” he said.
At the same time, TikTok remains banned from British government devices, the removal of Huawei equipment from UK 5G networks is scheduled to take place by 2027, and the purchase of new Huawei kit has been restricted, amid cited security risks.
Espionage concerns and political scrutiny remain, even as Britain recently approved plans for a new Chinese embassy in London.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would...
Ahead of next week’s World Urban Forum (WUF13), Baku State University and Azerbaijan’s State Committee fo...
French authorities have opened a new judicial inquiry into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, bringing renewed legal attention to a c...
Pope Leo is set to visit France from 25 to 28 September, with a stop at UNESCO headquarters in Paris expected to form a significant part of the tri...
Israeli airstrikes killed at least seven Palestinians in Gaza on Friday (15 May), including a child, as Israel said it had launched an operation ta...
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thursday (14 May) after Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership.
After Labour's devastating performance in the 8 May local elections, the party's internal architecture has cracked open with remarkable speed.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer laid down the gauntlet to challengers on Tuesday (12 May), as he defied calls to resign at a meeting of Cabinet, telling ministers that there had been no official move to trigger a leadership contest.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attempt a political fightback on Monday (11 May) with a speech promising closer ties with the European Union after Labour suffered heavy local election losses and growing calls for his resignation.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
The second semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest 2026 takes place tonight in a rain-soaked Vienna, with the final 10 places in Saturday’s grand final still up for grabs.
Foreign ministers from the expanded BRICS bloc gathered in New Delhi on Thursday (14 May) for a crucial two-day meeting overshadowed by the ongoing Iran war, internal tensions within the grouping and mounting fears over global energy supplies.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers, on Friday (15 May). The swap came as Ukranian officials said Moscow had carried out its largest aerial attack over 48 hours since the conflict started.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
French authorities have opened a new judicial inquiry into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, bringing renewed legal attention to a case that continues to draw international focus nearly eight years after his killing.
Pope Leo is set to visit France from 25 to 28 September, with a stop at UNESCO headquarters in Paris expected to form a significant part of the trip.
The Trump administration plans to announce criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro next Wednesday, according to a U.S. Justice Department official, in a move that would escalate the pressure campaign against the island's communist government.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment