Britons travelling to China will not want visas, Starmer proclaims after Xi assembly

Sir Keir Starmer has secured a deal on visa-free journey to China for UK residents throughout his go to to Beijing, Downing Street has introduced.

Britons will be capable to journey to China for 30 days with out a visa underneath the brand new deal, which can apply to each vacationers and enterprise travellers. It brings the UK into line with 50 different nations, together with France and Germany.

Sir Keir mentioned: “As one of the world’s economic powerhouses, businesses have been crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China. We’ll make it easier for them to do so, including via relaxed visa rules for short-term travel, supporting them to expand abroad, all while boosting growth and jobs at home.”

Sir Keir and the Chinese management additionally agreed to work in the direction of a commerce settlement on companies, setting out clear guidelines for UK firms wishing to do enterprise in China. And he left the door open to a future go to to the UK by President Xi, greater than a decade after his final state go to.

The deal on visas may very well be important when it comes to serving to the UK obtain financial development, by opening up alternatives between the 2 nations. But it comes amid issues over Chinese espionage within the UK, with the current collapse of the trial of two males – an instructional and a former parliamentary researcher – alleged to have engaged in spying for Beijing.

A lot of political figures have additionally pushed for the UK to erect additional obstacles with China over makes an attempt to steal UK copyright, in addition to human rights abuses in Hong Kong, the place the activist and British citizen Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned since 2020.

But the deal comes as Sir Keir is pushing for funding within the UK – and after Donald Trump imposed tariffs which have had an affect on Britain’s relationship with the US, its largest commerce associate.

Sir Keir has additionally agreed a data-sharing deal to assist sort out the small-boats disaster, with 60 per cent of the boat engines utilized by organised prison gangs coming from China.

Earlier, at the beginning of the assembly, Sir Keir advised President Xi that he needed to realize a “more sophisticated” relationship with China, whereas Mr Xi mentioned relations between the 2 nations had been by means of some “twists and turns” lately.

Sir Keir met with Mr Xi on the Great Hall of the People on the primary morning of his journey to China, the primary vist by a UK prime minister since 2018.

Afterwards, the prime minister mentioned: “We made some really good progress on tariffs for whisky, on visa-free travel to China, and on information exchange and cooperation on irregular migration, focusing particularly on small boats and engine parts.

“So a very good, constructive meeting, with real outcomes – and that’s very much in our national interest.”

When questioned about the potential of the Chinese chief coming to the UK, Sir Keir mentioned: “I’m not going to get ahead of engagements, future leader visits. But I think we’ve been very clear that a constructive and more open relationship with China is in the UK’s national interest and that’s what the Prime Minister will continue to pursue.”

The assembly, which lasted about an hour and 20 minutes, was the second between the 2 males and represents the end result of months of preparation for Sir Keir’s go to as he seeks to reset relations between the UK and China.

The Chinese authorities mentioned, in its personal readout of the assembly, that it was keen to “actively consider” implementing unilateral visa-free entry for the UK.

Downing Street’s readout mentioned the 2 leaders had “agreed they would continue to enhance cooperation on areas of mutual interest, while maintaining frank and open dialogue on areas of disagreement”.

“The prime minister raised areas of concern to the United Kingdom,” No 10 added.

Sir Keir is known to treat conferences with the Chinese management as essential for Britain, as he seeks to stress the sensible advantages of partaking with Beijing.

To that finish, he arrived alongside a delegation of 54 representatives of British companies and cultural establishments seeking to deepen ties with the nation.