China visa free travel: Brits visiting the country for less than 30 days will no longer need a visa under new agreement secured by Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer has secured a deal on visa-free travel to China for UK citizens during his visit to Beijing, Downing Street has announced.
Those visiting the country for less than 30 days will no longer need a visa under the agreement. It will apply to those travelling to China for business and as tourists and brings the rules for UK visitors in line with those from 50 other countries including France and Germany.
The Prime Minister said: “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”.
Starmer says: "Businesses have been crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China". Earlier the PM said the relationship between the UK and China is in a "good, strong place" after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says she would not be going to Beijing if she were prime minister today. She said: "I don't think that this is the time to do that. We need to be talking to those other countries who are worried about the threat China is posing to them”.
She highlights Japan, Australia, Brazil and European countries as those the UK should be talking more to, not the country that is "doing everything it can to undermine our economy". She calls on the prime minister to "show strength" and suggests he should not be approving a "super embassy" which she says many people think would become a "spy hub".