China to grant visa-free travel to UK and Canadian citizens

From February 17, UK and Canadian passport holders will be able to travel to mainland China without a visa for up to 30 days, China's Foreign Ministry has confirmed. The visa-free entry will be granted for various purposes, including tourism, business and family visits, and will initially be valid until December 31, the announcement said.

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The decision comes in the wake of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China last month. During his visit, the two countries agreed to relax travel restrictions during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Starmer said the move would make it easier for British businesses to expand operations in China, although critics say human rights and national security issues are being ignored in this effort to rebuild ties with Beijing.

China's Foreign Ministry said the visa-free policy would facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. The move brings the UK and Canada to the list of around 50 countries whose citizens can travel to China without a visa, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan.

According to the UK Office for National Statistics, around 620,000 British citizens travelled to China in 2024, so the move is expected to benefit a large number of people. During a visit to Beijing in January, Starmer said British businesses had long been looking for ways to increase their presence in China. The visit also saw the two countries discuss strengthening trade ties in services, health, green technology and finance, although no full free trade agreement was reached.

The visit was the first by a British prime minister to China since Theresa May in 2018. However, some opposition leaders criticised the trip. Just before the visit, Starmer's government also approved plans to build a large new Chinese embassy in central London, which the opposition has raised concerns about espionage and security risks.

Source: BBC