China to allow visa-free travel for British visitors as UK seeks closer trade relationship

Downing Street has confirmed that Downing Street has agreed to allow British citizens to travel to the country for up to 30 days without a visa, following high-level talks in Beijing aimed at restoring ties and improving 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. No date has been confirmed for the visa waiver, but officials said they are hopeful it will be implemented soon.

If enacted, this move could benefit hundreds of thousands of travelers. About 620,000 British citizens visited China in 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. Downing Street has said the UK will be joined by around 50 other countries that are ready for free entry, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan.

Sir Keir said the relaxed visa rules would support British firms looking to expand into one of the world’s biggest markets, while also making it easier for tourists to visit China.

“As one of the leading economies in the world, businesses have been crying out for ways to expand their footprint in China,” he said. “We will make it easier for them to do so, including relaxing short-term visa rules, supporting them to expand abroad, all of which boosts growth and jobs at home.”

The visit also led to an agreement to halve China’s import duty on UK whiskey from 10 per cent to 5 per cent, part of a wider effort to strengthen trade links. Downing Street said the two countries had agreed to explore negotiations on a services agreement that would create clear and legally binding rules for UK companies operating in China.

The UK is the world’s second largest exporter of services, including finance, legal services and healthcare, and No 10 said demand from China is increasing. A future deal could include mutual recognition of professional qualifications, helping British firms access Chinese markets more easily.

Separately, AstraZeneca has announced it will invest $15bn (£10.9bn) in China by 2030, expanding its production and workforce in the country.

Sir Keir said his talks with President Xi at the Great Hall of the People, which lasted about 80 minutes, focused on “huge opportunities” for cooperation, but also included sensitive topics. He said he raised the arrest of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and the treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.

“Part of the reason for negotiating is to take advantage of the opportunities that exist, but also to have a mature discussion about issues where we disagree,” he said.

The two countries also signed an anti-trafficking co-operation agreement, with UK and Chinese law enforcement pledging to disrupt the supply of small boat engines and equipment used by criminal gangs. Last year, more than 60 percent of the engines found in Cross-Channel were marked as being made in China.

In total, 10 agreements were signed covering areas including exports, education and food security.

President Xi said UK-China relations had been “volatile and volatile” in recent years but dialogue was vital in a “turbulent and fluid” world. He praised the previous Labor governments for their role in improving relations between the two countries.

The trip drew criticism from the opposition. Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused the prime minister of “kowtowing” to Beijing and endangering national security, while Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesman Calum Miller said the approach was “give and take”.

Sir Keir traveled with a delegation of British business and cultural leaders and said he wanted a “complex” relationship with China, stressing that global events have direct consequences for UK families and economic security.

The trip comes amid heightened global trade tensions after Donald Trump threatened increased tariffs on Canada over closer ties with China, underscoring the political sensitivity surrounding the UK’s renewed relationship with Beijing.