China has agreed in principle to allow British citizens to enter the country for up to 30 days without a visa, Downing Street confirmed after high-level talks in Beijing aimed at resetting ties and strengthening economic ties.
The announcement came after Keir Starmer met Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital, making him the first British prime minister to visit China in eight years. No start date for the visa waiver has been confirmed, but officials said they hope the waiver will be implemented as soon as possible.
If implemented, the move could benefit hundreds of thousands of travelers. According to the Office for National Statistics, around 620,000 British citizens visited China in 2024. Downing Street said the UK would be brought into line with around 50 other countries already eligible for visa-free entry, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan.
Sir Keir said relaxed visa requirements would support British firms looking to expand in one of the world’s biggest markets while making it easier for tourists to visit China.
“As one of the world’s economic powers, companies are clamoring for ways to expand their presence in China,” he said. “We will make it easier for them, including through relaxed visa requirements for short-term travel, helping them expand abroad while supporting growth and jobs at home.”
The visit also led to an agreement to halve Chinese import tariffs on British whiskey from 10 percent to 5 percent, part of a broader effort to strengthen trade ties. Downing Street said the two countries had agreed to explore negotiations on a services agreement that would create clearer, legally binding rules for British companies operating in China.
The UK is the world’s second-largest exporter of services, including financial, legal and healthcare services, and No. 10 said demand from China is increasing. A future agreement could include mutual recognition of professional qualifications and make it easier for British companies to access Chinese markets.
In addition, AstraZeneca said it would invest $15 billion (£10.9 billion) in China by 2030, expanding production and the 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 the “huge opportunities” for cooperation but also touched on sensitive issues. He said he raised the detention of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai and the treatment of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.
“One of the reasons for engagement is to take advantage of the opportunities that arise, but also to have a mature discussion on issues where we disagree,” he said.
The two countries also signed a cooperation agreement to combat people smuggling, in which British and Chinese law enforcement agencies pledged to stop the supply of engines and equipment for small boats used by criminal gangs. Last year, more than 60 percent of engines recovered from Channel crossings were classified as being made in China.
A total of ten agreements were signed, covering areas such as exports, education and food safety.
President Xi said relations between Britain and China had seen “twists and turns” in recent years, but argued that dialogue was essential in a “turbulent and fluid” world. He praised previous Labor governments for their role in developing relations between the two countries.
The visit was met with criticism from opposition figures. 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 “a give and not a take”.
Traveling with a delegation of British business and cultural leaders, Sir Keir said he wanted a more “nuanced” relationship with China and stressed that global events had direct consequences for British households and economic security.
The trip comes amid heightened global trade tensions after Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs against Canada over closer ties with China, underscoring the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding Britain’s renewed engagement with Beijing.
