Beijing (Pakistan News dot com dot pk) China has announced that British and Canadian citizens will be able to travel to mainland China without a visa for 30 days from February 17.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the visa-free entry will be for tourism, business or visiting family and friends, and the policy will initially be in effect until December 31. The decision comes after British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s state visit to China last month, where he met President Xi Jinping and the two leaders agreed to relax travel rules.
British PM said the deal would make it easier for British businesses to expand in China, but critics say the government is ignoring human rights and national security concerns in an effort to improve ties with Beijing.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, announcing the start date of the policy, said the move would further facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. After the decision, British and Canadian passports holders are now in line with 50 other countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan.
According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, around 620,000 British citizens visited China in 2024, and millions more will now be able to benefit from the new policy. During a visit to China in January, the British prime minister said that British businesses were eager to find ways to increase their presence in China.
Before the visit, Sir Keir Starmer’s government approved plans for a large new Chinese embassy in central London, which opponents objected to as it could be used for espionage and pose security risks.