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.
The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was reportedly attacked near...
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a...
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead a...
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy p...
Montenegrin police, working alongside the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, have arrested an Iranian national accused of carrying out a ...
Andy Burnham's path to Downing Street appeared to become clearer on Wednesday after another potential challenger ruled himself out of the Labour leadership race.
Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to be Britain’s next Prime Minister, was sworn in as a member of Parliament on Monday, just hours after Keir Starmer announced his resignation from the top job.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 23 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he will step down as Prime Minister and Labour Party leader in a tearful address outside Downing Street in London on Monday. Starmer's resignation comes two years after he won a landslide election victory.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Japan's northeast coast on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued, no injuries were immediately reported and no irregularities were found at nuclear facilities, the authorities said.
As Western Europe battles a deadly heatwave that has shattered temperature records, disrupted transport and power supplies, and forced the closure of schools and cultural landmarks, attention is turning to whether El Niño is playing a role in the extreme conditions.
Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting a hurdle to Iran-U.S. peace talks, as the top U.S. diplomat tours the Middle East to win over allies sceptical about a proposed deal.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
The Kremlin has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming Moscow is pressuring Belarus to support an expanded Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a rise in fatalities among people held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy police presence as authorities sealed off the area and gave no immediate explanation for the incident.
Montenegrin police, working alongside the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, have arrested an Iranian national accused of carrying out a series of cyberattacks that allegedly caused an estimated $3.4 billion in damage to U.S. infrastructure.
South Korea is set to dramatically expand its unmanned warfare capabilities, with plans to integrate drones across all branches of its military as tensions with North Korea continue to shape the country's defence strategy.
Fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have begun to recover following an interim U.S.–Iran agreement aimed at stabilising the waterway after months of disruption during conflict, industry data shows.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment