Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a new agreement with China that will allow British citizens to travel visa-free to China for up to 30 days. The announcement came after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, though Downing Street has not yet specified when the measure will come into force.
During the meeting, Xi Jinping described the visit as drawing “a lot of attention” and noted that “sometimes good things take time.” He quoted a Chinese proverb, “Range far your eye over long distances,” and acknowledged that the UK-China relationship had seen “twists and turns” that served neither country’s interests. Starmer’s predecessor, Boris Johnson, had taken a harder line on China, including removing Huawei from the UK’s 5G network.
Starmer, accompanied by a delegation of nearly 60 British business and cultural leaders, said he hoped to forge new partnerships and unlock opportunities for them in China. He stressed that “growth and prosperity at home is directly linked to our engagement with the world’s biggest powers abroad.”
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, in a separate meeting, said Starmer’s efforts to improve relations had been “widely welcomed” in both countries, adding that “open cooperation and mutual benefit is what the people want.” Starmer replied that he wanted to find ways to work together “in a manner which is fit for these times,” including being “more open and frank” and “recognising and respecting modern China.”
The two leaders also agreed to enhance cooperation on areas of mutual interest while maintaining frank dialogue on disagreements. Starmer raised areas of concern to the UK, though details were not disclosed. A No 10 spokesperson said both leaders affirmed their commitment to building a “consistent, long-term, and strategic partnership.”
