Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, secured a visa waiver agreement with China during a visit to Beijing, marking the first trip by a British Prime Minister to the country since 2018, according to PA Media and The Guardian. The agreement will allow UK citizens to travel to China for up to 30 days without a visa for business and tourism purposes.
Downing Street announced that the visa-free entry will bring the UK in line with over 50 other countries, including France and Germany. While the change is not immediate, Beijing has committed to unilaterally implementing the visa-free entry for UK citizens, with the start date yet to be confirmed. Currently, British passport holders require a visa to enter mainland China.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Starmer and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Xi stated that the UK's relationship with China has experienced "twists and turns" but that a more consistent approach would be in both countries' interests, according to The Guardian. Starmer expressed that businesses have been "crying out for ways to grow their" operations in China, highlighting the economic importance of the agreement.
The Guardian noted that Starmer's visit comes at a time when China is central to the world's green technology and economic future, forcing the UK to address strategic discussions that can no longer be postponed.
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